Tyrphostin like compounds

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to molecules capable of modulating tyrosine signal transduction to prevent and treat cell proliferative disorders or cell differentiation disorders associated with particular tyrosine kinases by inhibiting one or more abnormal tyrosine kinase activities.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/957,420, filed Oct. 24, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,935,993, by Tang etal., and entitled “NOVEL TYRPHOSTIN-LIKE COMPOUNDS”, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including anydrawings.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of tyrosine kinaseinhibition. More specifically, the present invention relates to the useof small organic molecules to prevent and treat cell proliferativedisorders or cell differentiation disorders associated with particulartyrosine kinases by inhibiting one or more abnormal tyrosine kinaseactivities.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cellular signal transduction is a fundamental mechanism whereby externalstimuli that regulate diverse cellular processes are relayed to theinterior of cells. Reviews describing intracellular signal transductioninclude Aaronson, Science, 254: 1146-1153, 1991; Schlessinger, TrendsBiochem. Sci., 13:443-447, 1988; and Ullrich and Schlessinger, Cell,61:203-212, 1990. One of the key biochemical mechanisms of signaltransduction involves the reversible phosphorylation of tyrosineresidues on proteins. The phosphorylation state of a protein is modifiedthrough the reciprocal actions of tyrosine kinases (TKs) and tyrosinephosphatases (Tps).

Tyrosine kinases can be of the receptor type (having extracellular,transmembrane and intracellular domains) or the non-receptor type (beingwholly intracellular). There are 19 known families of receptor tyrosinekinases including the Her family (EGFR, Her 2, Her 3, Her 4), theinsulin receptor family (insulin receptor, IGF-1R, insulin-relatedreceptor), the PDGF receptor family (PDGF-Rα and β, CSF-1R, kit, Flk2),the Flk family (Flk-1, Flt-1, Flk-4), the FGF-receptor family (FGF-Rs 1through 4), the Met family (Met, Ron), etc. There are 11 known famioliesof non-receptor type tyrosine kinases including the Src family (src,yes, fyn, lyn, lck. blk, Hck, Fgr, yrk), Abl family (Abl, Arg), Zap 70family (Zap 70, Syk) and Jak family (Jak 1, Jak 2, Tyk 2, Jak 3). Manyof these tyrosine kinases have been found to be involved in cellularsignalling pathways leading to pathogenic conditions such as cancer,psoriasis, hyperimmune response, etc.

Protein tyrosine kinases play an important role in cellular signalingpathways that regulate the control of cell growth and differentiation(for review, see Schlessinger & Ullrich, 1992, Neuron, 9:383-391) .Aberrant expression or mutations in receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs)have been shown to lead to either uncontrolled cell proliferation (e.g.malignant tumor growth) or to defects in key developmental processes. Insome instances, a single tyrosine kinase can inhibit, or stimulate, cellproliferation depending on the cellular environment in which it isexpressed. Consequently, the biomedical community has expendedsignificant resources to discover the specific biological role ofmembers of the RTK family, their function in differentiation processes,their involvement in tumorigenesis and in other diseases, thebiochemical mechanisms underlying their signal transduction pathwaysactivated upon ligand stimulation and the development of novelantineoplastic drugs.

Attempts have been made to identify RTK “inhibitors” using a variety ofapproaches, including the use of mutant ligands (U.S. application Ser.No. 4,966,849), soluble receptors and antibodies (Application No. WO94/10202; Kendall & Thomas, 1994, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci 90:10705-09;Kim, et al., 1993, Nature 362:841-844), RNA ligands (Jellinek, et al.,19 Biochemistry 33:10450-56), protein kinase C inhibitors (Schuchter, etal., 1991, Cancer Res. 51:682-687); Takano, et al., 1993, Mol. Bio. Cell4:358A, Kinsella, 20 et al., 1992, Exp. Cell Res. 199:56-62; Wright, etal., 1992, J. Cellular Phys. 152:448-57) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors(WO 94/03427; WO 92/21660; WO 91/15495; WO 94/14808; U.S. Pat. No.5,330,992; Mariani, et al., 1994, Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. 2535:2268).

Attempts have also been made to identify small molecules which act astyrosine kinase inhibitors. For example, bis monocyclic, bicyclic orheterocyclic aryl compounds (PCT WO 92/20642), vinylene-azaindolederivatives (PCT WO 94/14808) and 1-cycloproppyl-4-pyridyl-quinolones(U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,992) have been described generally as tyrosinekinase inhibitors. Styryl compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 5,217,999),styryl-substituted pyridyl compounds (U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,606), certainquinazoline derivatives (EP Application No. 0 566 266 Al), seleoindolesand selenides (PCT WO 94/03427), tricyclic polyhydroxylic compounds (PCTWO 92/21660) and benzylphosphonic acid compounds (PCT WO 91/15495) havebeen described as compounds for use as tyrosine kinase inhibitors foruse in the treatment of cancer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to molecules capable of modulatingtyrosine signal transduction to prevent and treat cell proliferativedisorders or cell differentiation disorders associated with particulartyrosine kinases by inhibiting one or more abnormal tyrosine kinaseactivities.

More specifically, the invention is generally directed to compoundshaving the formulae:

and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein:

X is NH or CH₂CN,

m is 0 or 1;

n is, 0, 1, 2, or 3;

Q is an aryl or heteroaryl 5 or 6 member ring optionally substitutedwith R;

R₁₋₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of halo,trihalo, methyl, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, H, nitro, cyano, amide,sulfonyl, sulfonamide, carboxy, carboxamide, and amino.

Q is preferably phenyl, thienyl, or

optionally substituted with F or CF₃

Examples of preferred compounds include compounds 731-744 shown below:

Another preferred compound is 748 shown below:

The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions andmethods for inhibiting cell proliferation or differentiation and relateddisorders. Examples of such disorders include cancers, blood vesselproliferative disorders, psoriasis, hyperimmune response and fibroticdisorders. Examples of other disorders include the HER2 disorders, EGFdisorders, IGFR disorders, PDGFR disorders, met disorders, SVCdisorders, and KDR/FLK-1 disorders described herein. It is to beunderstood that compounds which are effective for diseases related toone RTK will also likely be effective for diseases related to otherRTK's, especially those from the same family. Thus, for example,compounds shown to have good effect against Her2 are likely to also havegood effect against other members of the Her family, i.e., EGFR, Her3,and Her4.

Chemical Definitions

The following is a list of some of the definitions used in the presentdisclosure. An “alkyl” group refers to a saturated aliphatichydrocarbon, including straight-chain, branched-chain, and cyclic alkylgroups. Preferably, the alkyl group has 1 to 12 carbons. Morepreferably, it is a lower alkyl of from 1 to 7 carbons, more preferably1 to 4 carbons. The alkyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted.When substituted the substituted group(s) is preferably, hydroxyl,cyano, alkoxy, ═O, ═S, NO₂, N(CH₃)₂, amino, or SH.

An “alkenyl” group refers to an unsaturated hydrocarbon group containingat least one carbon-carbon double bond, including straight-chain,branched-chain, and cyclic groups. Preferably, the alkenyl group has 2to 12 carbons. More preferably it is a lower alkenyl of from 2 to 7carbons, more preferably 2 to 4 carbons. The alkenyl group may besubstituted or unsubstituted. When substituted the substituted group(s)is preferably, hydroxyl, cyano, alkoxy, ═O, ═S, NO₂, halogen, N(CH₃)₂,amino, or SH. An “alkynyl” group refers to an unsaturated hydrocarbongroup containing at least one carbon-carbon triple bond, includingstraight-chain, branched-chain, and cyclic groups. Preferably, thealkynyl group has 2 to 12 carbons. More preferably, it is a loweralkynyl of from 2 to 7 carbons, more preferably 2 to 4 carbons. Thealkynyl group may be substituted or unsubstituted. When substituted, thesubstituted group(s) is preferably, hydroxyl, cyano, alkoxy, ═O, ═S,NO₂, N(CH₃)₂, amino or SH.

An “alkoxy” group refers to an “—O-alkyl” group, where “alkyl” isdefined as described above.

An “aryl” group refers to an aromatic group which has at least one ringhaving a conjugated pi electron system and includes carbocyclic aryl,heterocyclic aryl and biaryl groups, all of which may be optionallysubstituted. Preferably, the aryl is a substituted or unsubstitutedphenyl or pyridyl. Preferred aryl substituent(s) are halogen,trihalomethyl, hydroxyl, SH, OH, NO_(2,) amine, thioether, cyano,aikoxy, alkyl, and amino groups.

An “alkylaryl” group refers to an alkyl (as described above), covalentlyjoined to an aryl group (as described above). Preferably, the alkyl is alower alkyl.

“Carbocyclic aryl” groups are groups wherein the ring atoms on thearomatic ring are all carbon atoms. The carbon atoms are optionallysubstituted.

“Heterocyclic aryl” groups are groups having from 1 to 3 heteroatoms asring atoms in the aromatic ring and the remainder of the ring atoms arecarbon atoms. Suitable heteroatoms include oxygen, sulfur, and nitrogen,and include furanyl, thienyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, N-lower alkyl pyrrolo,pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, imidazolyl and the like, all optionallysubstituted.

An “amide” refers to an —C(O)—NH—R, where R is either alkyl, aryl,alkylaryl or hydrogen.

A “thioamide” refers to —C(S)—NH—R, where R is either alkyl, aryl,alkylaryl or hydrogen. An “ester” refers to an —C(O)—OR′, where R′ iseither alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl.

An “amine” refers to a —N(R″)R″′, where R″ and R″′, is independentlyeither hydrogen, alkyl, aryl, or alkylaryl, provided that R″ and R″′ arenot both hydrogen.

A “thioether” refers to —S—R, where R is either aikyl, aryl, oralkylaryl.

A “sulfonyl” refers to —S(O)₂—R, where R is aryl, C(CN)═C-aryl, CH₂—CN,alkylaryl, NH-alkyl, NH-alkylaryl, or NH-aryl.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiments thereof and from theclaims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS I. Cell Proliferative and CellDifferentiation Disorders

Cell proliferative and cell differentiation disorders which can betreated or further studied by the present invention include any disorderassociated with a tyrosine kinase signalling pathway, for examplecancers, blood vessel proliferative disorders, psoriasis, hyperimmuneresponse and fibrotic disorders. These disorders are not necessarilyindependent. For example, fibrotic disorders may be related to, oroverlap, with blood vessel proliferative disorders. For example,atherosclerosis (which is characterized herein as a blood vesseldisorder) results, in part, in the abnormal formation of fibrous tissue.

Blood vessel proliferation disorders refer to angiogenic andvasculogenic disorders generally resulting in abnormal proliferation ofblood vessels. The formation and spreading of blood vessels, orvasculogenesis and angiogenesis respectively, play important roles in avariety of physiological processes such as embryonic development, woundhealing and organ regeneration. They also play a role in cancerdevelopment. Examples of blood vessels disorders include restenosis,retinopathies, and atherosclerosis.

Fibrotic disorders refer to the abnormal formation of extracellularmatrix. Examples of fibrotic disorders include hepatic cirrhosis andmesangial cell proliferative disorders. Hepatic cirrhosis ischaracterized by the increase in extracellular matrix constituentsresulting in the formation of a hepatic scar. Hepatic cirrhosis cancause diseases such as cirrhosis of the liver. An increasedextracellular matrix resulting in a hepatic scar can also be caused byviral infection such as hepatitis. Lipocytes appear to play a major rolein hepatic cirrhosis.

Mesangial cell proliferative disorders refer to disorders brought aboutby abnormal proliferation of mesangial cells. Mesangial proliferativedisorders include various human renal diseases, such asglomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, malignant nephrosclerosis,thrombotic microangiopathy syndromes, transplant rejection, andglomerulopathies. PDGFR has been implicated in the maintenance ofmesangial cell proliferation. (Floege, J. et al., Kidney International43S: 47-54 (1993))

HER2, EGFR, IGFR, PDGFR, met, src and KDR/FLK-1 driven cancers anddisorders are described in detail below and are a preferred subset ofthe disorders to be treated. A cancer cell refers to various types ofmalignant neoplasms, most of which can invade surrounding tissues, andmay metastasize to different sites, as defined by Stedman's MedicalDictionary 25th edition (Hensyl ed. 1990).

A. HER2 Cell Proliferation Disorders

The HER-2 protein is a member of the class I receptor tyrosine kinase(RTK) family. Yarden and Ulirich, Annu. Rev. Biochem. 57:443, 1988;Ullrich and Schlessinger, Cell 61:203, 1990. HER-2 protein isstructurally related to EGF-R, p180(HER-3), and p180(HER-4). Carraway,et al., Cell 78:5, 1994; Carraway, et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:14303,1994. These receptors share a common molecular architecture and containtwo cysteine-rich regions within their cytoplasmic domains andstructurally related enzymatic regions within their cytoplasmic domains.

Activation of HER-2 protein can be caused by different events such asligand-stimulated homodimerization, ligand-stimulatedhetero-dimerization and ligand-independent homo-dimerization.Ligand-stimulated hetero-dimerization appears to be induced by EGF-R toform EGF-R/HER-2 complexes and by new differentiation factor/heregulin(NDF/HRG) to form HER-2HER-3 and/or HER2/HER-4 complexes. Wada et al.,Cell 61:1339, 1990; Slikowski et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:14661, 1994;Plowman et al., Nature 266:473, 1993. Ligand-dependent activation ofHER-2 protein is thought to be mediated by neuactivating factor (NAF)which can directly bind to p165(HER-2) and stimulate enzymatic activity.Dougall et al., Oncogene 9:2109, 1994; Samata et al., Proc. Natl. Acad.Sci. USA 91:1711, 1994. Ligand-independent homodimerization of HER-2protein and resulting receptor activation is facilitated byover-expression of HER-2 protein.

HER-2 protein substrates are acted upon by activated HER-2 complexessuch as HER-2/EGF-R, HER-2/HER-2, HER2/HER-3, and HER-2/HER-4 activatedcomplexes. An activated HER-2 complex acts as a phosphokinase andphosphorylates different cytoplasmic proteins. Examples of HER-2substrates include IP₃ kinase and PI 4-kinase. Scott et al., Journal ofBiological Cheinistry 22:14300, 1991. Proteins bind to an activatedHER-2 complex and then another protein. For example, GRB-7 binding to aHER-2 complex may be sufficient to initiate the GRB-7 signaling pathwaywithout phosphorylation. Stein et al., EMBO Journal 13:1331, 1993.

Thus, HER-2 protein activities include:(1) phosphorylation of HER-2protein, HER-3 protein or HER-4 protein; (2) phosphorylation of a HER-2protein substrate; (3) interaction with a HER-2 adapter protein; and/or(4) HER-2 protein surface expression. Additional HER-2 proteinactivities can be identified using standard techniques. For example, apartial agonistic monoclonal antibody recognizing HER-2 protein can beused to activate HER-2 protein and examine signal transduction of HER-2protein. Scott et al., Journal of Biological Chemistry 22:14300, 1991.HER2 activity can be assayed by measuring one or more of the followingactivities:(1) phosphorylation of HER2; (2) phosphorylation of a HER2substrate; (3) activation of an HER2 adapter molecule; and (4) increasedcell division. These activities can be measured using techniquesdescribed below and known in the art.

HER2 driven disorders are characterized by inappropriate orover-activity of HER2. Inappropriate HER-2 activity refers to either:(1)HER2 expression in cells which normally do not express HER2; (2)increased HER-2 expression leading to unwanted cell proliferation suchas cancer; (3) increased HER-2 activity leading to unwanted cellproliferation, such as cancer; and/or overactivity of HER-2.Over-activity of HER2 refers to either an amplification of the geneencoding HER2 or the production of a level of HER2 activity which can becorrelated with a cell proliferative disorder (i.e., as the level ofHER2 increases the severity of one or more of the symptoms of the cellproliferative disorder increases). HER2 driven disorders are typicallycell proliferative or differentiation disorders such as cancers. HER2driven disorders appear to be responsible for a sub-population ofdifferent types of cancers. For example, as noted above, Slamon et al.,found about 30% of breast cancer cells to have increased HER2 geneexpression. Slamon et al., also found a correlation between her2(c-erbB-2) amplification and poor patient prognosis.

Treatment of patients suffering from a HER2 disorder is facilitated byfirst determining whether the cell proliferative disorder ischaracterized by an overactivity of HER2. After the disorder isidentified, patients suffering from such a disorder can be identified byanalysis of their symptoms using procedures well known to medicaldoctors. Such identified patients can then be treated as describedherein. The use of the present invention to treat breast cancer ispreferred because of the prevalence and severity of breast cancer.Carcinoma of the breast is the most common cancer among women and theirsecond leading cause of cancer death (Marshall, E., Science 259:618-621,1993) . The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing over the pastseveral decades (Marshall, supra, and Harris, JR., et al, New Engl. J .Med., 327(5):319-328, 1992). In addition to breast cancers, increasedHER2 activity or gene expression has been associated with certain typesof blood cancers, stomach adenocarcinomas, salivary glandadenocarcinomas, endometrial cancers, ovarian adenocarcinomas, gastriccancers, colorectal cancers, non-small cell lung cancer, andglioblastomas. The methods described herein can be used to identify thesub-populations of these different cancers which are characterized byover-activity of HER2.

B. EGFR Disorders

Some of the featured compounds can be used to treat cell proliferativeand/or cell differentiation disorders characterized by inappropriateEGFR activity. “Inappropriate EGFR” activity refers to either: (1)EGF-receptor (EGFR) expression in cells which normally do not express

EGFR; (2) EGF expression by cells which normally do not express EGF; (3)increased EGF-receptor (EGFR) expression leading to unwanted cellproliferation; (4) increased EGF expression leading to unwanted cellproliferation; and/or (5) mutations leading to constitutive activationof EGF-receptor (EGFR) The existence of inappropriate or abnormal EGFand EGFR levels or activities is determined by procedures well known inthe art.

An increase in EGF activity or expression is characterized by anincrease in one or more of the activities which can occur upon EGFligand binding such as:(1) EGF-R dimerization; (2) auto-phosphorylationof EGFR, (3) phosphorylation of an EGFR substrate (e.g., PLC, see Frysupra), (4) activation of an adapter molecule, and/or (5) increased celldivision. These activities can be measured using techniques describedbelow and known in the art. For example auto-phosphorylation of EGFR canbe measured as described in the examples below using ananti-phosphotyrosine antibody, and increased cell division can beperformed by measuring ³H-thymidine incorporation into DNA. Preferably,the increase in EGFR activity is characterized by an increased amount ofphosphorylated EGFR and/or DNA synthesis.

Unwanted cell proliferation and/or differentiation can result frominappropriate EGFR activity occurring in different types of cellsincluding cancer cells, cells surrounding a cancer cell, and endothelialcells. Examples of disorders characterized by inappropriate EGF activityinclude cancers such as glioma, head, neck, gastric, lung, breast,ovarian, colon, and prostate; and other types of cell proliferativedisorders such as psoriasis.

C. IGF Disorders

The insulin-like growth factor I receptor belongs to the family oftransmembrane tyrosine kinase receptors such as platelet-derived growthfactor receptor, the epidermal growth factor receptor, and the insulinreceptor. The insulin-like growth factor family of ligands, receptorsand binding proteins is reviewed in Krywicki and Yee, Breast CancerResearch and Treatment, 22:7-19, 1992.

IGF-1R has been implicated as an absolute requirement for theestablishment and maintenace of the transformed phenotype both in vitroand in vivo in several cell types. Baserga R., Cancer Research55:249-252, 1995. Herbimycin A has been said to inhibit the IGF-1Rprotein tyrosine kinase and cellular proliferation in human breastcancer cells. Sepp-Lorenzino et al., Abstract, 1994. Experimentsstudying the role of IGF-1R in transformation have used antisensestrategies, dominant negative mutants, and antibodies to the IGF-1R andhave led to the suggestion that IGR-1R may be a preferred target fortherapeutic interventions.

IGF driven disorders are characterized by inappropriate or over-activityof IGF. Inappropriate IGF activity refers to either:(1) IGF expressionin cells which normally do not express IGF; (2) increased IGF expressionleading to unwanted cell proliferation such as cancer; (3) increased IGFactivity leading to unwanted cell proliferation, such as cancer; and/orover-activity of IGF. Over-activity of IGF refers to either anamplification of the gene encoding IGF or the production of a level ofIGF activity which can be correlated with a cell proliferative disorder(i.e., as the level of IGF increases the severity of one or more of thesymptoms of the cell proliferative disorder increases). Examples of IGFdriven disorders include the various IGF related human malignanciesreviewed in Cullen et al., Cancer Investigation, 9(4):443-454, 1991,incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, including anydrawings. IGF's clinical importance and role in regulating osteoblastfunction is reviewed in Schmid, Journal of Internal Medicine,234:535-542, 1993.

Thus, IGF activities include:(1) phosphorylation of IGF protein; (2)phosphorylation of a IGF protein substrate; (3) interaction with a IGFadapter protein; and/or (4) IGF protein surface expression. AdditionalIGF protein activities can be identified using standard techniques. IGFactivity can be assayed by measuring one or more of the followingactivities:(1) phosphorylation of IGF; (2) phosphorylation of a IGFsubstrate; (3) activation of an IGF adapter molecule; and (4) increasedcell division. These activities can be measured using techniquesdescribed below and known in the art.

D. KDR/FLK-1 Disorders

Two structurally related RTKs have been identified to bind VEGF withhigh affinity:the fms like tyrosine 1 (flt-l) receptor (Shibuya et al.,1990, oncogene 5:519-524; De Vries et al., 1992, Science 255:989-991)and the KDR/FLK-1 receptor. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)has been reported to be an endothelial cell specific mitogen with invitro endothelial cell growth promoting activity. Ferrara & Henzel,1989, Biochein. Biophys. Res. Comm. 161:851-858; Vaisman et al., 1990,J. Biol. Chem. 265:19461-19566. Information set forth in U.S.application Ser. Nos. 08/193,829, 08/038,596 and 07/975,750, stronglysuggest that VEGF is not only responsible for endothelial cellproliferation, but also is the prime regulator of normal andpathological angiogenesis. See generally, Klagsburn & Soker, 1993,Current Biology 3(10)699-702; Houck, et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem.267:26031-26037.

Normal vasculogenesis and angiogenesis play important roles in a varietyof physiological processes such as embryonic development, wound healing,organ regeneration and female reproductive processes such as follicledevelopment in the corpus luteum during ovulation and placental growthafter pregnancy. Folkman & Shing, 1992, J. Biological Chem.267(16):10931-34. Uncontrolled vasculogenesis and/or angiogenesis hasbeen associated with diseases, such as diabetes, as well as malignantsolid tumors that rely on vascularization for growth. Klagsburn & Soker,1993, Current Biology 3(10):699-702; Folkham, 1991, J. Natl., CancerInst. 82:4-6; Weidner, et al., 1991, New Engl. J. Med. 324:1-5.

The surmised role of VEGF in endothelial cell proliferation andmigration during angiogenesis and vasculogenesis indicate an importantrole for the KDR/FLK-1 in these processes The invention is further basedon the observation that diseases such as diabetes mellitus (Folkman,198, in Xlth Congress of Thrombosis and Haemostasis (Verstraeta, et al.,eds.) pp. 583-596, Leuven University Press, Leuven) and arthritis, aswell as malignant tumor growth may result from uncontrolledangiogenesis. See e.g., Folkman, 1971, N. Engl. J. Med. 285:1182-1186.The receptors to which VEGF specifically binds are an important andpowerful therapeutical target for the regulation and modulation ofvasculogenesis and/or angiogenesis and a variety of severe diseaseswhich involve abnormal cellular growth caused by such processes.Plowman, et al., 1994, DN&P 7(6):334-339. More particularly, theKDR/FLK-1 receptor's high specificity and role in the neovascularjzationmake it a very distinct and powerful target for therapeutic approachesfor the treatment of cancer and other diseases which involve theuncontrolled formation of blood vessels.

The present invention relates to compounds capable of regulating and/ormodulating tyrosine signal transduction and more particularly KDRIFLK-1receptor signal transduction in order to inhibit or promote angiogenesisand/or vasculogenesis. The invention is based upon the discovery anddesign of compounds that inhibit, prevent, or interfere with the signaltransduced by KDR/FLK-I when activated by ligands such as VEGF. Althoughit is therefore believed that the compounds of the present invention acton a receptor or other component along the tyrosine kinase signaltransduction pathway, the compounds may also act directly on the tumorcells that result from uncontrolled angiogenesis.

For purposes of this application, although the nomenclature of the humanand murine counterparts of the generic “flk-l” receptor differ, theyare, in many respects, interchangeable. The murine receptor, FLK1, andits human counterpart, KDR, share a sequence homology of 93.4% withinthe intracellular domain. Likewise, murine FLK-l binds human VEGF withthe same affinity as mouse VEGF, and accordingly, is activated by theligand derived from either species. Millauer et al., 1993, Cell72:835-846; Quinn et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:7533-7537.FLK-1 also associates with and subsequently tyrosine phosphorylateshuman RTK substrates (e.g., PLC-γ or p85) when coexpressed in 293 cells(human embryonal kidney fibroblasts).

Models which rely upon the FLK-1 receptor therefore are directlyapplicable to understanding the KDR receptor. For example, use of themurine FLK-1 receptor in methods to identify compounds which regulatethe signal transduction pathway are directly applicable to theidentification of compounds which may be used to regulate the humansignal transduction pathway, and more specifically, activity related tothe KDR receptor. Chemical compounds identified as inhibitors ofKDR/FLK-1 in vitro, will be confirmed in suitable in vivo models. Bothin vivo mouse and rat animal models have been demonstrated to be ofexcellent value for the examination of the clinical potential of agentsacting on the KDR/FLK-1 induced signal transduction pathway.

This invention is therefore directed to compounds which regulate,modulate and/or inhibit vasculogenesis and/or angiogenesis by affectingthe enzymatic activity of the KDR/FLK-1 receptor and interfering withthe signal transduced by KDR/FLK-1. More particularly, the presentinvention is directed to compounds which regulate, modulate and/orinhibit the KDR/FLK-1 mediated signal transduction pathway as atherapeutic approach to cure many kinds of solid tumors, including butnot limited to glioblastoma, melanoma and Kaposi's sarcoma, and ovarian,lung, mammary, prostate, pancreatic, colon and epidermoid carcinoma. Inaddition, data suggest the administration of compounds which inhibit theKDR/FLK1 mediated signal transduction pathway may be used for thetreatment of hemangioma and diabetic retinopathy.

The invention also relates to the inhibition of vasculogenesis andangiogenesis via other receptor-mediated pathways, including the pathwaycomprising the highly related flt-I receptor. Receptor tyrosine kinasemediated signal transduction is initiated by extracellular interactionwith a specific growth factor (ligand), followed by receptordimerization, transient stimulation of the intrinsic protein tyrosinekinase activity and autophosphorylation. Binding sites are therebycreated for intracellular signal transduction molecules and lead to theformation of complexes with a spectrum of cytoplasmic signallingmolecules that facilitate the appropriate cellular response. (E.g., celldivision, metabolic effects to the extracellular microenvironment) See,Schlessinger and Ullrich, 1992, Neuron 9:1-20.

The close homology of the intracellular regions of KDR/FLK-1 with thatof the PDGF-β-Receptor (50.3% homology) and/or the highly related flt-lreceptor indicates the induction of overlapping signal transductionpathways. For example, for the PDGF-βReceptor, members of the src family(Twamley et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 90:7696-7700),phosphatidylinositol-3′-kinase (Hu et al., 1992, Mol. Cell. Biol.12:981-990), phospholipase c-γ (Kashishian & Cooper, 1993, Mol. Cell.Biol. 4:49-51), ras-GTPase-activating protein, (Kashishian et al., 1992,EMBO J. 11:1373-1382), PTP-ID/syp (Kazlauskas et al., 1993, Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. USA 90 :6939-6943), Grb2 (Arvidsson et al., 1994, Mol. Cell.Biol. 14:6715-6726), and the adapter molecules Shc and Nck (Nishimura etal., 1993, Mol. Cell. Biol. 13:6889-6896), have been shown to bind toregions involving different autophosphorylation sites. See generally,Claesson-Welsh, 1994, prog. Growth Factor Res. 5:37-54. Thus, it islikely that signal transduction pathways activated by KDR/FLK-1 includethe ras pathway (Rozakis et al., 1992, Nature 360:689-692), thePI-3′-kinase pathway and the src-mediated and plcy-mediated pathways.Each of these pathways may play a critical role in the angiogenic and/orvasculogenic effect of KDR/FLK-1 in endothelial cells. Consequently, thepresent invention is also directed to the use of the organic compoundsdiscussed herein to modulate angiogenesis and vasculogenesis as suchprocesses are controlled by these pathways.

E. C-MET Related Disorders

The c-met protooncogene is a growth factor receptor with tyrosine kinaseactivity and a suspected involvement in hepatocarcinogenesis. C-metprotein expression has been correlated with poor to moderatedifferentiation of cancer cells whereas in one study all cases haveincreased to more proliferative activity showed c-met proteinexpression. Thus, suggesting an important role in the development ofhepatocellular carcinoma see Suzuki et al., Hepatology 20:1231-1236,1994.

The met gene is selectively expressed in several epithelial tissues andhigh levels of met mRNA have been found in liver, gastrointestinaltract, thyroid and kidney. Normal or increased levels of met mRNA andmet Protein were consistently found in fresh samples of carcinomas aswell as epithelial tumor cell lines and in thyroid carcinomas of aspecific histiotype. The amount of met protein was found to be increasedmore than 100 fold suggesting a role in growth control of epithelialcells other than hepathocytes and suggesting the increase in expressionmay convert growth advantage to neoplasm cells. Renzo et al., Oncogene6:1997-2003, 1991.

The c-met oncogene is expressed not only in hepatocytes but also in avariety of tissues and over expression of c-met is found in some celllines and tumors. It is amplified and overexpressed in a gastriccarcinoma cell line, gtl-16 and it has been reported that the expressionof c-met is enhanced in colorectal, gastric and thyroid cancer. The metgene is overexpressed in some cases of human leukemia and lymphoma. SeeJucker et al. Leukemia Res., 18 :7-16, 1994. Expression of the met genewas detected in patients with Hodgkins disease, Burkitt's, lymphoma cellline and acute myeloid leukemia. Expression of c-met encoded HGFR inhuman melonocytic neoplasms has been used to demonstrate therelationship to malignant tumor progressions. Natali, Br. J. Cancer68:746-750, 1993.

The role of c-met in human tumors is review in Giordano et al., EuropeanJrnl. Cancer Prevention, 1:45-49, 1992. Examples of human tumorsbelieved to be associated with c-met include colon cancer tumor,epithelial tumors, gastrointestinal tumors, thyroid tumors, and others.The expression of HGFR in human pancreatic cancer is described in Renzoet al., Cancer Res., 55:1129-1138, 1995. The TPR/MET oncogenicrearrangement is present and expressed in human gastric carcinoma andprecursor legion, see Soman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA,88:4892-4896, 1991. It has been reported that HGF gene deletion leads todeath knockout mice see Bioworld Today Feb. 24, 1995. The molecularcharacteristics of HGF-SF and its role in cell motility and invasion isreviewed in Widner et al., Hepatocyte Growth Factor Scatter Factor (HGSF) and the C MET Receptor Editors Goldberg and Rosen, 1993.

F. PDGFR Driven Disorders

PDGFR driven disorders are described in U.S. patent application Ser.Nos. 08/370,574 and 08/426,789, filed Jan. 6, 1995 and Apr. 21, 1995,both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entiretyincluding any drawings.

II. Diagnostic uses

Another use of the compounds described herein is to help diagnosewhether a disorder is driven, to some extent, by a particular receptortyrosine kinase. Some cancers may be driven by more than one receptortyrosine kinases. For example, Wada et al., Oncogene 5:489-495, 1990,describes co-expression of EGFR and HER2.

A diagnostic assay to determine whether a particular cancer is driven bya specific receptor can be carried out using the following steps:(1)culturing test cells or tissues; (2) administering a compound which caninhibit one or more receptor tyrosine kinase; and (3) measuring thedegree of growth inhibition of the test cells.

These steps can be carried out using standard techniques in light of thepresent disclosure. For example, standard techniques can be used toisolate cells or tissues and culturing or in vivo. An example of an invitro assay is a cellular kinase assay as described below. An example ofan in vivo assay is a xenograft experiment where the cells or tissuesare implanted into another host such as a mouse.

Compounds of varying degree of selectivity are useful for diagnosing therole of a receptor tyrosine kinase. For example, compounds which inhibitmore than one type of receptor tyrosine kinase can be used as an initialtest compound to determine if one of several receptor tyrosine kinasesdrive the disorder. More selective compounds can then be used to furthereliminate the possible role of different receptor tyrosine kinases indriving the disorder. Test compounds should be more potent in inhibitingreceptor tyrosine kinase activity than in exerting a cytotoxic effect(e.g., an IC₅₀/LD₅₀ of greater than one). IC₅₀ and LD₅₀ can be measuredby standard techniques, such as described in the present application andusing an MTT assay as described by Mossman supra, or by measuring theamount of LDH released (Korzeniewski and Callewaert, J. supra; Deckerand Lohmann-Matthes, supra). The degree of IC₅₀/LD₅₀ of a compoundshould be taken into account in evaluating the diagnostic assay.Generally, the larger the ratio the more reliable the information.Appropriate controls to take into account the possible cytotoxic effectof a compound, such as treating cells not associated with a cellproliferative disorder (e.g., control cells) with a test compound, canalso be used as part of the diagnostic assay.

III. Pharmaceutical Formulations and Modes of Administration

The particular compound that affects the protein complexes and thedisorder of interest can be administered to a patient either bythemselves, or in pharmaceutical compositions where it is mixed withsuitable carriers or excipient(s). In treating a patient exhibiting adisorder of interest, a therapeutically effective amount of a agent oragents such as these is administered. A therapeutically effective doserefers to that amount of the compound that results in amelioration ofsymptoms or a prolongation of survival in a patient.

Toxicity and therapeutic efficacy of such compounds can be determined bystandard pharmaceutical procedures in cell cultures or experimentalanimals, e.g., for determining the LD₅₀ (the dose lethal to 50% of thepopulation) and the ED₅₀ (the dose therapeutically effective in 50% ofthe population). The dose ratio between toxic and therapeutic effects isthe therapeutic index and it can be expressed as the ratio LD₅₀/ED₅₀.Compounds which exhibit large therapeutic indices are preferred. Thedata obtained from these cell culture assays and animal studies can beused in formulating a range of dosage for use in human. The dosage ofsuch compounds lies preferably within a range of circulatingconcentrations that include the ED₅₀ with little or no toxicity. Thedosage may vary within this range depending upon the dosage formemployed and the route of administration utilized.

For any compound used in the method of the invention, thetherapeutically effective dose can be estimated initially from cellculture assays. For example, a dose can be formulated in animal modelsto achieve a circulating plasma concentration range that includes theIC₅₀ as determined in cell culture (i.e., the concentration of the testcompound which achieves a half-maximal disruption of the proteincomplex, or a half-maximal inhibition of the cellular level and/oractivity of a complex component). Such information can be used to moreaccurately determine useful doses in humans. Levels in plasma may bemeasured, for example, by HPLC.

The exact formulation, route of administration and dosage can be chosenby the individual physician in view of the patient's condition. (Seee.g. Fingl et al., in The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 1975,Ch. 1 p. 1). It should be noted that the attending physician would knowhow to and when to terminate, interrupt, or adjust administration due totoxicity, or to organ dysfunctions. Conversely, the attending physicianwould also know to adjust treatment to higher levels if the clinicalresponse were not adequate (precluding toxicity). The magnitude of anadministrated dose in the management of the oncogenic disorder ofinterest will vary with the severity of the condition to be treated andto the route of administration. The severity of the condition may, forexample, be evaluated, in part, by standard prognostic evaluationmethods. Further, the dose and perhaps dose frequency, will also varyaccording to the age, body weight, and response of the individualpatient. A program comparable to that discussed above may be used inveterinary medicine.

Depending on the specific conditions being treated, such agents may beformulated and administered systemically or locally. Techniques forformulation and administration may be found in Remington'sPharmaceutical Sciences, 18th ed., Mack Publishing Co., Easton, Pa.(1990). Suitable routes may include oral, rectal, transdermal, vaginal,transmucosal, or intestinal administration; parenteral delivery,including intramuscular, subcutaneous, intramedullary injections, aswell as intrathecal, direct intraventricular, intravenous,intraperitoneal, intranasal, or intraocular injections, just to name afew. For injection, the agents of the invention may be formulated in.aqueous solutions, preferably in physiologically compatible buffers suchas Hanks's solution, Ringer's solution, or physiological saline buffer.For such transmucosal administration, penetrants appropriate to thebarrier to be permeated are used in the formulation. Such penetrants aregenerally known in the art.

Use of pharmaceutically acceptable carriers to formulate the compoundsherein disclosed for the practice of the invention into dosages suitablefor systemic administration is within the scope of the invention. Withproper choice of carrier and suitable manufacturing practice, thecompositions of the present invention, in particular, those formulatedas solutions, may be administered parenterally, such as by intravenousinjection. The compounds can be formulated readily usingpharmaceutically acceptable carriers well known in the art into dosagessuitable for oral administration. Such carriers enable the compounds ofthe invention to be formulated as tablets, pills, capsules, liquids,gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions and the like, for oral ingestion bya patient to be treated.

Agents intended to be administered intracellularly may be administeredusing techniques well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Forexample, such agents may be encapsulated into liposomes, thenadministered as described above. Liposomes are spherical lipid bilayerswith aqueous interiors. All molecules present in an aqueous solution atthe time of liposome formation are incorporated into the aqueousinterior. The liposomal contents are both protected from the externalmicroenvironment and, because liposomes fuse with cell membranes, areefficiently delivered into the cell cytoplasm. Additionally, due totheir hydrophobicity, small organic molecules may be directlyadministered intracellularly.

Pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the present inventioninclude compositions wherein the active ingredients are contained in aneffective amount to achieve its intended purpose. Determination of theeffective amounts is well within the capability of those skilled in theart, especially in light of the detailed disclosure provided herein. Inaddition to the active ingredients, these pharmaceutical compositionsmay contain suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers comprisingexcipients and auxiliaries which facilitate processing of the activecompounds into preparations which can be used pharmaceutically. Thepreparations formulated for oral administration may be in the form oftablets, dragees, capsules, or solutions. The pharmaceuticalcompositions of the present invention may be manufactured in a mannerthat is itself known, e.g., by means of conventional mixing, dissolving,granulating, dragee-making, levitating, emulsifying, encapsulating,entrapping or lyophilizing processes.

Pharmaceutical formulations for parenteral administration includeaqueous solutions of the active compounds in water-soluble form.Additionally, suspensions of the active compounds may be prepared asappropriate oily injection suspensions. Suitable lipophilic solvents orvehicles include fatty oils such as sesame oil, or synthetic fatty acidesters, such as ethyl oleate or triglycerides, or liposomes. Aqueousinjection suspensions may contain substances which increase theviscosity of the suspension, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose,sorbitol, or dextran. Optionally, the suspension may also containsuitable stabilizers or agents which increase the solubility of thecompounds to allow for the preparation of highly concentrated solutions.

Pharmaceutical preparations for oral use can be obtained by combiningthe active compounds with solid excipient, optionally grinding aresulting mixture, and processing the mixture of granules, after addingsuitable auxiliaries, if desired, to obtain tablets or dragee cores.Suitable excipients are, in particular, fillers such as sugars,including lactose, sucrose, mannitol, or sorbitol; cellulosepreparations such as, for example, maize starch, wheat starch, ricestarch, potato starch, gelatin, gum tragacanth, methyl cellulose,hydroxypropylmethyl-cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and/orpolyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). If desired, disintegrating agents may beadded, such as the cross-linked polyvinyl pyrrolidone, agar, or alginicacid or a salt thereof such as sodium alginate.

Dragee cores are provided with suitable coatings. For this purpose,concentrated sugar solutions-may be used, which may optionally containgum arabic, talc, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, carbopol gel, polyethyleneglycol, and/or titanium dioxide, lacquer solutions, and suitable organicsolvents or solvent mixtures. Dyestuffs or pigments may be added to thetablets or dragee coatings for identification or to characterizedifferent combinations of active compound doses.

Pharmaceutical preparations which can be used orally include push-fitcapsules made of gelatin, as well as soft, sealed capsules made ofgelatin and a plasticizer, such as glycerol or sorbitol. The push-fitcapsules can contain the active ingredients in admixture with fillerssuch as lactose, binders such as starches, and/or lubricants such astalc or magnesium stearate and, optionally, stabilizers. In softcapsules, the active compounds may be dissolved or suspended in suitableliquids, such as fatty oils, liquid paraffin, or liquid polyethyleneglycols. In addition, stabilizers may be added.

Dosage amount and interval may be adjusted individually to provideplasma levels of the active moiety which are sufficient to maintain thekinase modulating effects, or minimal effective concentration (MEC). TheMEC will vary for each compound but can be estimated from in vitro data;eg the concentration necessary to achieve a 50-90% inhibition of thekinase using the assays described herein. Dosages necessary to achievethe MEC will depend on individual characteristics and route ofadministration. However, HPLC assays or bioassays can be used todetermine plasma concentrations.

Dosage intervals can also be determined using the MEC value. Compoundsshould be administered using a regimen which maintains plasma levelsabove the MEC for 10-90% of the time, preferably between 30-90% and mostpreferably between 50-90%.

EXAMPLES

Examples are provided below to illustrate different aspects andembodiments of the present invention. These examples are not intended inany way to limit the disclosed invention. Rather, they illustratemethodology by which drugs having the disclosed formulas can be readilyidentified by routine procedure to ensure that they have the desiredactivity, and the synthesis of different compounds described herein.Compounds within a formula claimed herein can be screened to determinethose with the most appropriate activity prior to administration to ananimal or human. Other compounds can also be screened to determinesuitability for use in methods of this invention.

4-Fluorophenylsulphonylacetonitrile,2,4-difluorophenyl-sulphonylacetonitrile,4-trifluoromethylphenylsulphonylacetonitrile and3-trifluoromethylsulphonylacetonitrile were prepared by oxidation of4-fluorophenylmercaptoacetonitrile,2,4-difluorophenyl-mercaptoacetonitrile,4-trifluoromethylphenylmercaptoacetonitrile and3-trifluoromethylphenylmercaptoacetonitrile with OXONE (trade mark),respectively. 4-Trifluoromethylphenylmercaptoacetonitrile and3-trifluoromethylphenylmercaptoacetonitrile were prepared by reactingthe corresponding thiophenol with bromoacetonitrile in acetone withpotassium carbonate as the base.

All other sulphonylacetonitriles are commercially available.

Example 1(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(pyrid-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrile

The reaction mixture of 450.0 mg of3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxylbenzaldehyde, 400.0 mg of2-pyridinesulphonylacetonitrile and a few drops of piperidine in 10.0 mLof ethanol was refluxed for 3 h and then cooled to room temperature. Tothe above reaction mixture was added 5.0 mL of water untilcrystallization began. After standing at 0° C. for 2 h, the solid wasfiltered, washed with cold water and dried in oven at 40° C. overnightto provide 350.0 mg of the titled compound.

Example 2(E)-2-Cyanomethylsulfonyl-3-(3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

A mixture of 500 mg of 3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 700 mgof sulphonyl diacetonitrile in 6 ml of ethanol was refluxed with a fewdrops of piperidine for 4 hours. Ethanol was removed in a rotavap andthe mixture worked up with ethyl acetate, diluted acid and brine. Aportion of the crude was then purified by HPLC on a C-18 column toprovide 50 mg of the titled compound along with 30 mg of(E,E)-2-[[1-Cyano-2-(3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]sulfonyl]-3-(3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile.

Example 3(E,E)-2-[[1-Cyano-2-(3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]sulfonyl]-3-(3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was obtained in the preparation of EXAMPLE 2.

Example 4(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and phenylsulphonly acetonitrileunder the similar conditions as described for EXAMPLE 1.

Example 5(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehydeand phenylsulphonly acetonitrile under the similar conditions asdescribed for EXAMPLE 1.

Example 6(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(pyrid-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehydeand (pyrid-2-yl)sulphonyl acetonitrile under the similar conditions asdescribed for EXAMPLE 1.

Example 7(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and phenyisulphonly acetonitrileunder the similar conditions as described for EXAMPLE 1.

Example 8(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(pyrid-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and (pyrid-2-yl)sulphonylacetonitrile under the similar conditions as described for EXAMPLE 1.

Example 9 (E)-3-(3,5-D i-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(cyanomethylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and sulphonyl diacetonitrile underthe similar condition as described for EXAMPLE 2.

Example 10 (E,E)-2-[[1-Cyano-2-(3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]sulfonyl]-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acryIonitrile

The titled compound was obtained in the preparation of EXAMPLE 9.

Example 11(E,E)-[1-Cyano-2-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]sulfonyl-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehydeand sulphonyl diacetonitrile under the similar conditions as describedfor EXAMPLE 3.

Example 12(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

A:To a solution of 2.14 g of benzylamine in 10 ml of ether at 5° C. wasslowly added a solution of 1.37 g of cyanomethylsulfonylchloride[Sammes, Wylie, Hoggett, J. Chem. Soc. (C), 2151, 1971] in 5 ml ofether. The resulting mixture was then stirred for another 30 minutes,poured into 50 ml of water and extracted with 50 ml of ethyl acetate.The organic layer was then washed with brine-, dried over magnesiumsulfate, filtered and concentrated. The crude sulfonamide was thenpurified on a silica gel column (1:1 hexane/ethyl acetate) to provide1.52 g of N-benzyl cyanomethylsulfonamide.

B:A mixture of 250 mg of 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 230 mgof N-benzyl cyanomethyl sulfonamide in 2 ml of ethanol with 2 drops ofpiperidine was heated at 100° C. for 3 hours. The cooled mixture wasthen diluted with 10 ml of water and extracted with 50 ml of ethylacetate. The organic extract was then washed with brine, dried oversodium sulfate, filtered and concentrated. Crystallization of the crudewith ethyl acetate and hexane yield 206 mg of the titled compound.

Example 13(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and N-benzylcyanomethylsulfonamide under the similar conditions as described forEXAMPLE 12 (part B).

Example 14(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehydeand N-benzyl cyanomethylsulfonamide under the similar conditions asdescribed for EXAMPLE 12 (part B).

Example 15(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3-phenyl-n-propyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrile

A:N-3-Phenyl-n-propyl cyanomethylsulfonamide was prepared with3-phenyl-n-propylamine and cyanomethylsulphonyl chloride under thesimilar conditions as described for N-benzyl cyanomethylsulfonamide(Part A, EXAMPLE 12).

B:N-3-Phenyl-n-propyl cyanomethylsulfonamide and3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde was condensed under the similarconditions as described for example 12 (Part B) to yield the titledcompound.

Example 16(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3-phenyl-n-propyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrile)

The titled compound was prepared with3,5-diisopropyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and N-3-phenyl-n-propylcyanomethylsulfonamide under the similar conditions as described forEXAMPLE 12 (part B).

Example 17(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)2-[(3-phenyl-n-propyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrile

The titled compound was prepared with 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehydeand N-3-phenyl-n-propyl cyanomethylsulfonamide under the similarconditions as described for EXAMPLE 12 (part B).

Example 18(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile

The reaction mixture of 178.0 mg of 3-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and219.0 mg of (4-fluorobenzenesulphonyl)acetonitrile in 2.0 mL of ethanolcontaining 0.01 mL piperidine was refluxed for 4 h and cooled down. Tothe above reaction mixture was added water and then the aqueous layerwas extracted with ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed withbrine, dried over magnesium sulfate and concentrated. The resultingresidue was purified on silica gel column eluting with ethylacetate-hexane (1:6) to give 295.0 mg of the titled compound.

Example 19(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(pyrid-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrile

The reaction mixture of 258.0 mg of3-bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylaldehyde, 219.0 mg of(pyrid-2-yl)sulphonylacetonitrile and 2 drops of piperidine in 2.0 mL ofethanol was refluxed for 2 h and cooled down in ice-water. The yellowprecipitate was filtered, washed with cold ethanol, and dried in oven at40° C. overnight to afford 365.0 mg of the titled compound.

The following compounds were prepared by the same methods as describedabove.

Example 20(E)-3-(3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 21(E,E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[[2-(3,5-disopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-cyanoethenyl]sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 22(E,E)-2-[2-(3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-1-cyanoethenyisulfonyl]-3-(3-bromo-4,5-dihydro-xyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 23(E)-2-Cyanomethylsulfonyl-3-(3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 24(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(pyrid-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 25

(E)-2-Cyanomethylsulfonyl-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)acrylonitrile

Example 26 (E,E)-[1-Cyano-2-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethenyl]sulfonyl-(3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile Example 27(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile Example 28(E)--2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 29(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3-ethoxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 30(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(3-bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 31(E)-3-(3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(4-phenyl-n-butyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 32(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3-phenyl-n-propyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 33(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3-phenyl-n-propyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 34(E)-3-(4-Hydroxy-3-ethoxyphenyl)-2-(phenyIsulfonyl)acrylonitrile Example35(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(pyrid-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 36(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 37(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 38(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 39(E)-3-(3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 40(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 41(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)benzylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 42(E)-2-(4-Fluorophenylsulfonyl)-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-di-t-butylphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 43(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile(741) Example 44(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 45(E)-3-(3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 46(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 47(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 48(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 49(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 50(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrile (743)Example 51 (E)-3-(3- Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl-2- [(thien-2-yl) sulfonyl]acrylonitrile Example 52(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 53(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 54(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 55(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 56(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 57(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 58(E)-3-(3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 59(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 60(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 61(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 62(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 63(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrile(750) Example 64(E)-3-(3-Bromo-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 65(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 66(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 67(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 68(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 69(E)-3-(3,4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 70(E)-3-(3-Bronio-4,5-dihydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrile(751) Example 71(E)-3-(3-Ethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 72(E)-3-(2-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[3-(trifluoromethyl)phenylsulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 73(E)-3-(2-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyisulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 74(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(2-chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 75(E)-3-(2-Chloro-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(4-phenyl-n-butyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 76(E)-2-Cyanomethylsulfonyl-3-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 77(E,E)-2-[2-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-cyanoethenylsulfonyl]-3-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 78(E)-3-(3,5-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 79(E)-3-(3,5-Diisopropyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 80(E)-3-(3,5-Dimethyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 81(E)-3-(3,1-Di-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 82(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(3-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrileExample 83(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3-phenyl-n-propyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 84(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(phenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 85(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(pyrid-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 86(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 87(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrile(752) Example 88(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(3-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyl)acrylonitrileExample 89(E)-2-(Benzylaminosulfonyl)-3-(3-bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylonitrile(753) Example 90(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-fluorophenylsulfonyl)-acrylonitrile(754) Example 91(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(3-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyl)-acrylonitrileExample 92(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenylsulfonyl)-acrylonitrileExample 93(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-(2,4-difluorophenylsulfonyl)-acrylonitrileExample 94(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-2-yl)sulfonyl]-acrylonitrileExample 95(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]-acrylonitrileExample 96(E)-3-(3-Bromo-5-t-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(3-phenyl-n-propyl)aminosulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 97(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-2-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrileExample 98(E)-3-(3-t-Butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-[(thien-3-yl)sulfonyl]acrylonitrile

Receptor tyrosine kinases can be used as initial test compounds todetermine if one of several receptor tyrosine kinases drive thedisorder. More selective compounds can then be used to further eliminatethe possible role of different receptor tyrosine kinases in driving thedisorder. Test compounds should be more potent in inhibiting receptortyrosine kinase activity than in exerting a cytotoxic effect (e.g., anIC₅₀/LD₅₀ of greater than one). As noted above, IC₅₀ and LD₅₀ can bemeasured by standard techniques, such as described in the presentapplication and using an MTT assay as described by Mossman supra, or bymeasuring the amount of LDH released (Korzeniewski and Callewaert, J.supra; Decker and Lohmann-Matthes, supra). The degree of IC₅₀/LD₅₀ of acompound should be taken into account in evaluating the diagnosticassay. Generally, the larger the ratio the more reliable theinformation. Appropriate controls to take into account the possiblecytotoxic effect of a compound, such as treating cells not associatedwith a cell proliferative disorder (e.g., control cells) with a testcompound, can also be used as part of the diagnostic assay.

The following examples illustrate the ability of the exemplary compoundsto inhibit receptor tyrosine kinases, such as HER2 and/or EGFR. Thefollowing target cells were used for cellular kinase assays: NIH3T3clone C7 (Honegger et al., supra) engineered to over-express human EGFreceptor; NIH3T3 cells engineered to over-express a chimeric receptorcontaining the EGFR extracellular domain and the HER2 intracellularkinase domain; the human mammary carcinoma line BT474 (ATCC HTB2)expressing HER2; and the human glioblastoma line U1242 that expressesPDGFR-beta. Growth assays were carried out using human mammaryepithelial SKBR3 (ATCC HTB30) cells (SKBR3 cells over-express HER2),SKOV3 (ATCC HTB77) human ovarian cancer cell line (SKOV3 cells alsoover-express HER2), A431 cells (A431 cells over-express EGFR) MCF7 humanbreast carcinoma cells, MCF7 cells overexpressing the HER2 kinase(MCF7-HER2), NIH3T3 cells, and NIH3T3 cells overexpressing the HER2kinase (3T3-HER2.

The assay procedures described below were used to generate the data inthe tables showing the effectiveness of the compounds of the presentinvention.

GROUP II ELISA TYPE ASSAYS Example 1 EGFR Whole Cell Kinase Assay

EGFR kinase activity (EGFR-3T3 assay) in whole cells was measured asdescribed below:

Materials & Reagents

1) EGF Ligand:stock concentration=16.5 μM; EGF 201, TOYOBO, Co., Ltd.Japan.

2) 05-101 (UBI) (a monoclonal antibody recognizing an EGFR extracellulardomain).

3) Anti-Phosphotyosine antibody (polyclonal) (made according to Fendleyet al., Cancer Research 50:1550-1558, 1990).

4) TAGO antibody:Goat anti-rabbit IgG horse radish peroxidase conjugate,TAGO, Inc., Burlingame, Calif.

5) TBST buffer:

Tris-HCl, pH 7.2  50 nM NaCl 150 mM Triton X-100 0.1%

6) HNTG 5×stock:

HEPES  0.1 M NaCl 0.75 M Glycerol  50% Triton X-100 1.0%

7) ABTS stock:

Citric Acid 100 mM Na₂HPO₄ 250 mM HCl, conc. 4.0 pH ABTS* 0.5 mg/ml

8) Stock reagents of:

EDTA 100 mM; pH 7.0 Na₃VO₄ 0.5 M Na₄PQ 0.2 M

Procedure

I. Pre-coat ELISA Plate

A. Coat ELISA plates (Corning, 96 well, Cat. #25805-96) with 05-101antibody at 0.5 μg per well in PBS, 150 μl final volume/well, and storeovernight at 4¤ C. Coated plates are good for up to 10 days when storedat 4¤ C.

B. On day of use, remove coating buffer and replace with blocking buffer(5% Carnation Instant NonFat Dry Milk in PBS). Incubate the plate,shaking, at room temperature (about 23¤ C. to 25¤ C.) for 30 minutes.Just prior to use, remove blocking buffer and wash plate 4 times withTBST buffer.

II. Seeding Cells

A. EGFR/C7 cell line (Honegger, et al., supra) can be used for thisassay.

B. Choose dishes having 80-90% confluence for the experiment. Trypsinizecells and stop reaction by adding 10% CS DMEM medium. Suspend cells inDMEM medium (10% CS DMEM medium) and centrifuge once at 1000 rpm, andonce at room temperature for 5 minutes.

C. Resuspend cells in seeding medium (DMEM, 0.5% bovine serum), andcount the cells using trypan blue. Viability above 90% is acceptable.Seed cells in DMEM medium (0.5% bovine serum) at a density of 10,000cells per well, 100 μl per well, in a 96 well microtiter plate. Incubateseeded cells in 5% CO₂ at 37¤ C. for about 40 hours.

III. Assay Procedures.

A. Check seeded cells for contamination using an inverted microscope.Dilute drug stock (10 mg/ml in DMSO) 1:10 in DMEM medium, then transfer5 μl to a test well for a final drug dilution of 1:200 and a final DMSOconcentration of 1%. Control wells receive DMSO alone. Incubate in 5%CO₂ at 37° C. for one hour.

B. Prepare EGF ligand:dilute stock EGF in DMEM so that upon transfer of10 μl dilute EGF (1:12 dilution), 25 nM final concentration is attained.

C. Prepare fresh HNTG* sufficient for 100 μl per well; and place on ice.

HNTG*:  10 ml HNTG stock (5x) 2.0 ml milli-Q H₂O 7.3 ml EDTA, (100 mM pH7.0) 0.5 ml Na₃VO₄, (0.5 M) 0.1 ml Na₄PO₇, (0.2 M) 0.1 ml

D. After two hours incubation with drug, add prepared EGF ligand tocells, 10 μl per well, to yield a final concentration of 25 nM. Controlwells receive DMEM alone. Incubate, shaking, at room temperature, for 5minutes.

E. Remove drug, EGF, and DMEM. Wash cells twice with PBS. Transfer HNTG*to cells, 100 μl per well. Place on ice for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, removeblocking buffer from other ELISA plate and wash with TBST as describedabove.

F. With a pipette tip securely fitted to a micropipettor, scrape cellsfrom plate and homogenize cell material by repeatedly aspirating anddispensing the HNTG* lysis buffer. Transfer lysate to a coated, blocked,and washed ELISA plate. Incubate shaking at room temperature for onehour.

G. Remove lysate and wash 4 times with TBST. Transfer freshly dilutedanti-Ptyr antibody to ELISA plate at 100 μl per well. Incubate shakingat room temperature for 30 minutes in the presence of the anti-Ptyrantiserum (1:3000 dilution in TBST).

H. Remove the anti-Ptyr antibody and wash 4 times with TBST. Transferthe freshly diluted TAGO 30 anti-rabbit IgG antibody (anti-rabbit IgGantibody:1:3000 dilution in TBST) to the ELISA plate at 100 μl per well.Incubate shaking at room temperature for 30 minutes.

I. Remove detection antibody and wash 4 times with TBST. Transferfreshly prepared ABTS/H₂O₂ solution to ELISA plate, 100 μl per well.Incubate at room temperature for 20 minutes. ABTS/H₂O₂ solution:1.2 μl30% H₂O₂ in 10 ml ABTS stock.

J. Stop reaction by adding 50 μl 5N H₂SO₄ (optional), and determine O.D.at 410 nm.

K. The maximal phosphotyrosine signal is determined by subtracting thevalue of the negative controls from the positive controls. The percentinhibition of phosphotyrosine content for extract-containing wells isthen calculated, after subtraction of the negative controls.

Example 2 EGFR-HER2 Chimeric Recetor

HER2 kinase activity (EGFR-3T3) in whole cells was measured as describedbelow:

Materials & Reagents

The materials and regeants are identical to these used in example 1, theEGFR whole cell kinase assay.

Procedure

I. Pre-coat ELISA Plate

A. Coat ELISA plates (Coming, 96 well, Cat. #25805-96) with 05-101antibody at 0.5 μg per well in PBS, 100 μl final volume/well, and storeovernight at 4¤ C. Coated plates are good for up to 10 days when storedat 4° C.

B. On day of use, remove coating buffer and replace with 100 μl blockingbuffer (5% Carnation Instant Non-Fat Dry Milk in PBS). Incubate theplate, shaking, at room temperature (about 23¤ C. to 25¤ C.) for 30minutes. Just prior to use, remove blocking buffer and wash plate 4times with TBST buffer.

II. Seedina Cells

A. An NIH3T3 cell line overexpressing a chimeric receptor containing theEGFR extracellular domain and extracellular HER2 kinase domain can beused for this assay.

B. Choose dishes having 80-90% confluence for the experiment. Trypsinizecells and stop reaction by adding 10% fetal bovine serum. Suspend cellsin DMEM medium (10% CS DMEM medium) and centrifuge once at 1500 rpm, atroom temperature for 5 minutes.

C. Resuspend cells in seeding medium (DMEM, 0.5% bovine serum) , andcount the cells using trypan blue. Viability above 90% is acceptable.Seed cells in DMEM medium (0.5% bovine serum) at a density of 10,000cells per well, 100 μl per well, in a 96 wefl microtiter plate. Incubateseeded cells in 5% CO₂ at 37¤ C. for about 40 hours.

III. Assay Procedures

A. Check seeded cells for contamination using an inverted microscope.Dilute drug stock (10 mg/ml in DMSO) 1:10 in DMEM medium, then transfer5 I to a TBST well for a final drug dilution of 1:200 and a final DMSOconcentration of 1%. Control wells receive DMSO alone. Incubate in 5%CO₂ at 37° C. for two hours.

B. Prepare EGF ligand:dilute stock EGF in DMEM so that upon transfer of10 μl dilute EGF (1:12 dilution), 100 nM final concentration isattained.

C. Prepare fresh HNTG* sufficient for 100μl per well; and place on ice.

HNTG*:  10 ml HNTG stock 2.0 ml milli-Q H₂O 7.3 ml EDTA, 100 mM, pH 7.00.5 ml Na₃VO₄, 0.5 M 0.1 ml Na₄PO₇, 0.2. M 0.1 ml

D. After 120 minutes incubation with drug, add prepared SGF ligand tocells, 10 μl per well, to a final concentration of 100 nM. Control wellsreceive DMEM alone. Incubate, shaking, at room temperature, for 5minutes.

E. Remove drug, EGF, and DMEM. Wash cells twice with PBS. Transfer HNTG*to cells, 100 μl per well. Place on ice. for 5 minutes. Meanwhile,remove blocking buffer from other ELISA plate and wash with TBST asdescribed above.

F. With a pipette tip securely fitted to a micropipettor, scrape cellsfrom plate and homogenize cell material by repeatedly aspirating anddispensing the HNTG* lysis buffer. Transfer lysate to a coated, blocked,and washed ELISA plate. Incubate shaking at room temperature for onehour.

G. Remove lysate and wash 4 times with TBST. Transfer freshly dilutedanti-Ptyr antibody to ELISA plate at 100 μl per well. Incubate shakingat room temperature for 30 minutes in the presence of the anti-Ptyrantiserum (1:3000 dilution in TBST).

H. Remove the anti-Ptyr antibody and wash 4 times with TBST. Transferthe freshly diluted TAGO anti-rabbit IgG antibody (anti-rabbit IgGantibody:1:3000 dilution in TBST) to the ELISA plate at 100 μl per well.Incubate shaking at room temperature for 30 minutes.

I. Remove detection antibody and wash 4 times with TBST. Transferfreshly prepared ABTS/H₂O₂ solution (ABTS/H₂O₂ solution:1.0 μl 30% H₂O₂in 10 ml ABTS stock) to ELISA plate, 100μl per well. Incubate shaking atroom temperature for 20 minutes.

J. Stop reaction by adding 50 μl 5N H₂SO₄ (optional), and determine O.D.at 410 nm.

K. The maximal phosphotyrosine signal is determined by subtracting thevalue of the negative controls from the positive controls. The percentinhibition of phosphotyrosine content for extract-containing wells isthen calculated, after subtraction of the negative controls.

Example 3 HER2-ELISA

HER2-BT474 assays measuring whole cell HER2 activity was carried out asdescribed below:

Materials & Reagents

1. The cell line used in this assay is BT-474 (ATCC HBT20), a humanbreast tumor cell line which expresses high levels of HER2 kinase.

2. BT-474 is grown in an incubator with 5% CO₂ at 37° C. The growthmedia is RPM+10% FBS+GMS-G (Gibco supplement)+Glutamine.

3. A monoclonal anti-HER2 antibody is used in ELISA.

4. D-PBS:

KH₂HPO₄ 0.20 g/l 10 (GIECO, 310-4190AJ) K₂HPO₄ 2.16 g/l KCl 0.20 g/lNaCl 8.00 g/l pH 7.2

5. Blocking Buffer:TBST plus 5% Milk (Carnation Instant Non-Fat DryMilk).

6. TBST buffer:

Tris-HCl  50 mM pH 7.2 (HCl, 10 N) NaCl 150 mM Triton X-100 0.1%

*Stock solution of TES (10×) is prepared, and Triton X-100 is added tothe buffer during dilution.

7. HNTG buffer:

HEPES  20 mM; pH 7.2 (HCl, 1 N) NaCl 150 mM Glycerol  10% Triton X-1000.2%

*Stock solution (5×) is prepared and kept in 4° C.

8. EDTA-HCl:0.5 M pH 7.0 (10 N HCl) as 500×stock.

9. Na₃VO₄:0.5 M as 100×stock is kept at −80° C. as aliquots.

10. Na4P₂O₇:0.2 M as 100×stock.

11. Polyclonal antiserum anti-phosphotyrosine.

12. Goat anti-rabbit IgG, horse raddish peroxidase (POD) conjugate, Tago(Cat. No. 4520; Lot No. 1802):Tago, Inc., Burlingame, Calif.

13. ABTS solution:

Citric acid 100 mM Na₂HPO₄ 250 mM; pH 4.0 (1 N HCl) ABTS 0.5 mg/ml

*ABTS:2.2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid)

*ABTS solution should be kept in the dark at 4¤ C. The solution shouldbe discarded when it turns green.

14. Hydrogen Peroxide:30% solution is kept in dark and 4° C.

Procedure

All the following steps are at room temperature and aseptically,performed unless stated otherwise. All ELISA plate washing is by rinsingwith distilled water three times and once with TBST.

1. Cell Seeding

(a) Grow BT474 cells in tissue culture dishes (10 cm, Corning 25020-100)to 80-90% confluence and collect using Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%, GIBCO).

(b) Resuspend the cells in fresh medium and transfer to 96-well tissueculture plates (Coming, 25806-96) at about 25,000-50,000 cells/well (100μl/well) . Incubate the cells in 5% CO₂ at 37° C. overnight.

2. ELISA Plate Coating and Blocking

(a) Coat the ELISA plate (Corning 25805-96) with anti HER2 antibody at0.5 μg/well in 150 μl1 PBS overnight at 4¤ C., and seal with parafilm.The antibody coated plates can be used up to 2 weeks, when stored at 4°C.

(b) On the day of use, remove the coating solution, replace with 200 μlof Blocking Buffer, shake the plate, and then remove the blocking bufferand wash the plate just before adding lysate.

3. Assay Procedures

(a) TBST the drugs in serum-free condition. Before adding drugs, the oldmedia is replaced with serum-free RPMI (90 μl/well)

(b) Dilute drug stock (in 100% DMSO) 1:10 with RPMI, and transfer 10μl/well of this solution to the cells to achieve a final drug DMSOconcentration at 1%. Incubate the cells in 5% CO₂ at 37° C.

(c) Prepare fresh cell lysis buffer (HNTG*)

HNTG   2 ml EDTA 0.2 ml Na₃VO₄ 0.1 ml Na₄P₂O₇ 0.1 ml H₂0 7.3 ml HNTG* 10 ml

(d) After drug preincubation for two hours remove all the solution fromthe plate, transfer HNTG* 100 μl/well to the cells, and shake for 10minutes.

(e) Use a 12-channel pipette to scrape the cells from the plate, andhomogenize the lysate by repeat aspiration and dispensing. Transfer allthe lysate to the ELISA plate and shake for 1 hour.

(f) Remove the lysate, wash the plate, add anti-pTyr (1:3,000 with TBST)100 μl/well, and shake for 30 minutes.

(g) Remove anti-pTyr, wash the plate, add goat anti-rabbit IgGconjugated antibody (1:5,000 with TBST) 100 μl/well, and shake for 30minutes.

(h) Remove anti-rabbit IgG antibody, wash the plate, and add freshABTS/H₂O₂ (1.2 μl 37% H₂O₂ in 10 ml ABTS) 100 μl (well to the plate tostart color development, which usually takes 20 minutes.

(I) Measure OD 410 nM, Dynatec MR5000.

Example 4 PDGF-R Cellular Assay

The PDGF cellular kinase assay was carried out as follows:cells arelysed in 0.2 M Hepes, 0.15 M NaCl, 10% V/V glycerol, 0.04% Triton X-100,5 mM EDTA, 5 rnM Na+ vanadate and 2 mM Na+ pyrophosphate; cell lysatesare then added to an ELISA plate coated with an anti-PDGF receptorantibody (Genzyme); ELISA plates are coated at 0.5 μg of antibody/wellin 150 μl of PBS for 18 hours at 4° C. prior to the addition of thelysate; the lysate is incubated in the coated plates for 1 hour and thenwashed four times in TBST (35 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.0, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.1%Triton X100); anti-phosphotyrosine antibody (100 μl in PBS) is added andthe mixture is incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature; the wellswere then washed four times in TBST, a secondary antibody conjugated toPOD (TAGO) is added to each well, and the treated well are incubated for30 minutes at room temperature; the wells are then washed four times inTBST, ABTS/H₂O₂ solution is added to each well and the wells areincubated for two minutes; absorbance is then measured at 410 nm.

Example 5 Cellular IGF-1 Receptor ELISA (Version I)

U1242 MG cells were plated in 96-well plates at a concentration of 5×10⁴cells/well in cultured media containing 0.5% FBS. The cells wereincubated for 24 hours. The cells were then treated with a particularcompound for 2 hours followed by the addition of 100 ng/ml PDGF-BB andincubation for 10 minutes.

Cells were lysed in 0.2 M Hepes, 0.15 M NaCl, 10% VN glycerol, 0.04%Triton X-100, 5 mM EDTA, 5 mM Na⁺ vanadate and 2 mM Na⁺ pyrophosphate.Cell lysates were then added to an ELISA plate coated with an anti-PDGFreceptor antibody (Genzyme). ELISA plates were coated at 0.5 μg ofantibody/well in 150 μl of PBS for 18 hours at 4° C. prior to theaddition of the lysate.

The lysate was incubated in the coated plates for 1 hour and then washedfour times in TBST (35 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.0, 0.15 M NaCl, 0.1% TritonX-100). Anti-phosphotyrosine antibody (100 μl in PBS) was added and themixture was incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. The wells werethen washed four times in TBST, a secondary antibody conjugated to POD(TAGO) was added to each well, and the treated well were incubated for30 minutes at room temperature. The wells were then washed four times inTBST, ABTS/H₂O₂ solution was added to each well and the wells wereincubated for two minutes. Absorbance was then measured at 410 nm.

MATERIALS AND REAGENTS

(1). The cell line used in this assay is 3T3/IGF-1R, a cell line whichoverexpresses IGF-1 Receptor.

(2). 3T3/IGF-1R is grown in an incubator with 5% CO2 at 37° C. Thegrowth media is DMEM+10% FBS (heat inactivated)+2 mM L-Glutamine.

(3). For ELISA plate coating, the anti-IGF-1R antibody named 17-69 issed. Antibodies are purified by the Enzymology Lab, SUGEN, Inc.

(4). D-PBS:

KH2PO4 0.20 g/l (GIBCO, 310-4190AJ) K2HPO4 2.16 g/l KCl 0.20 g/l NaCl8.0O g/l; pH 7.2

(5). Blocking Buffer:TBST plus 5% Milk (Carnation Instant Non-Fat DryMilk)

(6). TBST buffer:Tris-HCl 50 mM NaCl 150 mM pH 7.2 (HCl, 10 N) TritonX-100 0.1% *. Stock solution of TBS (10×) is prepared, and Triton X-100is added to the buffer during dilution.

(6). HNTG buffer:HEPES 20 mM NaCl 150 mM pH 7.2 (HCl, 1N) Glycerol 10%Triton X-100 0.2 *. Stock solution (5×) is prepared and kept at 4° C.

(7). EDTA.HCl:0.5 M pH 7.0 (NaOH) as 100×stock.

(8). Na3VO4:0.5 M as 100×stock and aliquots are kept in −80° C.

(9). Na4P2O7:0.2 M as 100×stock.

(10). Insulin-like growth factor-1 from Promega (Cat# G5111).

(11). Polyclonal antiserum Anti-phosphotyrosine:

(12). Goat anti-rabbit IgG, POD conjugate (detection antibody), Tago(Cat. No. 4520; Lot No.1802):Tago, Inc., Burlingame, Calif.

(13). ABTS solution:Citric acid 100 mM Na2HPO4 250 mM pH 4.0 (1 N HCl)ABTS 0.5 mg/ml *, ABTS:2.2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid)*. ABTS solution should be kept in dark and 4° C. The solution should bediscarded when it turns green.

(14). Hydrogen Peroxide:30% solution is kept in the dark and at 4° C.

V. Procedure

All the following steps are conducted at room temperature unless it isspecifically indicated. All ELISA plate washings are performed byrinsing the plate with tap water three times, followed by one TBSTrinse. Pat plate dry with paper towels.

1. Cell Seeding

(1). The cells, grown in tissue culture dish (10 cm, Corning 25020-100)to 80-90% confluence, are harvested with Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%, 0.5ml/D-100, GIBCO).

(2). Resuspend the cells in fresh DMEM+10% FBS+2 mM L-Glutamine, andtransfer to 96- well tissue culture plate (Corning, 25806-96) at 20,000cells/well (100 ul/well). Incubate for 1 day then replace medium toserum-free medium (90/ul) and incubate in 5% CO2 and 37° C. overnight.

2. ELISA Plate Coating and Blocking

(1). Coat the ELISA plate (Corning 25805-96) with Anti-IGF-1R Antibodyat 0.5 ug/well in 100 μl PBS at least 2 hours.

(2). Remove the coating solution, and replace with 100 ul BlockingBuffer, and shake for 30 minutes. Remove the blocking buffer and washthe plate just before adding lysate.

3. Assay Procedures

(1). The drugs are tested in serum-free condition.

(2). Dilute drug stock (in 100% DMSO) 1:10 with DMEM in 96-wellpoly-propylene plate, and transfer 10 ul/well of this solution to thecells to achieve final drug dilution 1:100, and final DMSO concentrationof 1.0%. Incubate the cells in 5% CO2 at 37° C. for 2 hours.

(3). Prepare fresh cell lysis buffer (HNTG HNTG 2 ml EDTA 0.1 ml Na3VO40.1 ml Na4P2O7 0.1 ml H20 7.3 ml HNTG* 10 ml.

(4). After drug incubation for two hours, transfer 10 ul/well of 200 nMIGF-1 Ligand in PBS to the cells (Final Conc=20 nM), and incubate at 5%CO2 at 37° C. for 10 minutes.

(5). Remove media and add 100 ul/well HNTG* and shake for 10 minutes.Look at cells under microscope to see if they are adequately lysed.

(6). Use a 12-channel pipette to scrape the cells from the plate, andhomogenize the lysate by repeat aspiration and dispense. Transfer allthe lysate to the antibody coated ELISA plate [V.2.(2)], and shake for 1hour.

(7). Remove the lysate, wash the plate, transfer anti-pTyr (1:3,000 withTBST) 100 ul/well, and shake for 30 minutes.

(7). Remove anti-pTyr, wash the plate, transfer detection antibody(1:3,000 with TBST) 100 ul/well, and shake for 30 minutes.

(8). Remove detection antibody, wash the plate, and transfer freshABTS/H2O2 (1.2 ul H2O02 to 10 ml ABTS) 100 ul/well to the plate to startcolor development.

(9). Measure OD (410 nm) in Dynatec MR5000, which is connected toIngres.

Example 6 Cellular Insulin Receptor ELISA (Version I)

The following protocol describes the cell line, reagents and proceduresused to measure phosphotyrosine level on Insulin Receptor, whichindicates Insulin Receptor tyrosine kinase activity.

Materials and Reagents

(1). The cell line used in this assay is H25 (ATCC #CRL 8017), an NIH3T3cell line which overexpresses Insulin Receptor.

(2). H25 cells are grown in an incubator with 5% CO2 at 37° C. Thegrowth media is DMEM +10% FBS (heat inactivated)+2 mM L-Glutamine.

(3). For ELISA plate coating, the monoclonal anti-IR antibody named BBEis used. Antibodies are purified by the Enzymology Lab, SUGEN, Inc.

(4). D-PBS:KH2PO4 0.20 g/l (GIBCO, 310-4190AJ) K2HPO4 2.16 g/l KC1 0.20g/l NaCl 8.00 g/l pH 7.2.

(5). Blocking Buffer:TBST plus 5% Milk (Carnation Instant Non-Fat DryMilk)

(6). TBST buffer:Tris-HCl 50 mM NaCl 150 mM pH 7.2 (HCl, 10 N) TritonX-100 0.1%. *. Stock solution of TBS (10×) is prepared, and Triton X-100 is added to the buffer during dilution.

(6). HNTG buffer:HEPES 20 mM NaCl 150 mM pH 7.2 (HCl, 1 N) Glycerol 10%Triton X-100 0.2% *. Stock solution (5×) is prepared and kept at 4° C.

(7). EDTA.HCl:0.5 M pH 7.0 (NaOH) as 100×stock.

(8). Na3VO4:0.5 M as 100×stock and aliquots are kept in −80° C.

(9). Na4P2O7:0.2 M as 100×stock.

(10). Insulin from GIBCO BRL (Cat# 18125039). (11). Polyclonal antiserumAnti-phosphotyrosine:rabbit sera generated by Enzymology Lab., SUGENInc.

(12). Goat anti-rabbit IgG, POD conjugate (detection antibody), Tago(Cat. No. 4520; Lot No. 1802):Tago, Inc., Burlingame, Calif.

(13). ABTS solution:Citric acid 100 mM Na2HPO4 250 mM pH 4.0 (1 N HCl)ABTS 0.5 mg/ml *. ABTS:2.2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazolinesulfonic acid)*. ABTS solution should be kept in dark and 4° C. The solution should bediscarded when it turns green.

(14). Hydrogen Peroxide:30% solution is kept in the dark and at 4° C.

IV. Procedure

All the following steps are conducted at room temperature unless it isspecifically indicated. All ELISA plate washings are performed byrinsing the plate with tap water three times, followed by one TBSTrinse. Pat plate dry with paper towels.

1. Cell Seeding

(1). The cells, grown in tissue culture dish (10 cm, Corning 25020-100)to 80-90% confluence, are harvested with Trypsin-EDTA (0.25%, 0.5ml/D-100, GIBCO).

(2). Resuspend the cells in fresh DMEM+10% FBS+2 mM L-Glutamine, andtransfer to 96-well tissue culture plate (Coming, 25806-96) at 20,000cells/well (100 ul/well). Incubate for 1 day then replace medium to0.01% serum medium (90/ul) and incubate in 5% CO2 and 37° C. overnight.

2. ELISA Plate Coating and Blocking

(1). Coat the ELISA plate (Corning 25805-96) with Anti-IR Antibody at0.5 ug/well in 100 ul PBS at least 2 hours.

(2). Remove the coating solution, and replace with 100 ul BlockingBuffer, and shake for 30 minutes. Remove the blocking buffer and washthe plate just before adding lysate.

3. Assay Procedures

(1). The drugs are tested in serum-free condition.

(2). Dilute drug stock (in 100% DMSO) 1:10 with DMEM in 96-wellpoly-propylene plate, and transfer 10 ul/well of this solution to thecells to achieve final drug dilution 1:100, and final DMSO concentrationof 1.0%. Incubate the cells in 5% CO2 at 37° C. for 2 hours.

(3). Prepare fresh cell lysis buffer (HNTG*) HNTG 2 ml EDTA 0.1 mlNa3VO4 0.1 ml Na4P2O7 0.1 ml H20 7.3 ml HNTG* 10 ml.

(4). After drug incubation for two hours, transfer 10 ul/well of 1 μMInsulin in PBS to the cells (Final Conc=100 nM), and incubate at 5% CO2at 37° C. for 10 minutes.

(5). Remove media and add 100 ul/well HNTG* and shake for 10 minutes.Look at cells under microscope to see if they are adequately lysed.

(6). Use a 12-channel pipette to scrape the cells from the plate, andhomogenize the lysate by repeat aspiration and dispense. Transfer allthe lysate to the antibody coated ELISA plate [V.2.(2)], and shake for 1hour.

(7). Remove the lysate, wash the plate, transfer anti-pTyr (1:3,000 withTBST) 100 ul/well, and shake for 30 minutes.

(8). Remove anti-pTyr, wash the plate, transfer detection antibody(1:3,000 with TBST) 100 ul/well, and shake for 30 minutes.

(9). Remove detection antibody, wash the plate, and transfer freshABTS/H202 (1.2 ul H2O2 to 10 ml ABTS) 100 ul/well to the plate to startcolor development.

(10). Measure OD (410 nM) in Dynatec MR5000.

Example 7 ELISA Assay To Measure Kinase Activity of FLK-I Receptor InFLK-I/NIH Cells

An ELISA assay was conducted to measure the kinase activity of the FLK-Ireceptor and more specifically, the inhibition or activiation of proteintyrosine kinase activity on the FLk-I receptor.

6.1. Materials And Methods

Materials. The following reagents and supplies were used:

a. Corning 96-well ELISA plates (Corning Catalog No. 25805-96);

b. Cappel Goat anti-rabbit IgG (catalog no. 55641);

c. PBS (Gibco Catalog No. 450-1300EB);

d. TBSW Buffer (50 mM Tris (pH 7.2)m 150 mM NaCl and 0.1% Tween-20);

e. Ethanolamine stock (10% ethanolamine (pH 7.0), stored at 4° C.);

f.HNTG buffer (20 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.5), 150 mM NaCl, 0.2% TritonX-100, and 10% Glycerol);

g. EDTA (0.5 M (pH 7.0) as a 100×stock);

h. Sodium Ortho Vanadate (0.5 M as a 100×stock)

i. Sodium pyro phosphate (0.2M as a 100×stock);

j.NUNC 96 well V bottom polypropylene plates (Applied Scientific CatalogNo. AS-72092);

k. N1H3T3C7 #3 Cells (FLK-I infected cells);

l. DMEM with IX high glucose L Gulatamine (catalog No. 11965-050);

m. FBS, Gibco (catalog no. 16000-028);

n. L-glutamine, Gibco (catalog no. 25030-016);

o. VEGF, PeproTech, Inc. (catalog no. 100-20) (kept as 1 ug/100 ul stockin Milli-Q dH₂O and stored at −20° C.;

p. Affinity purified anti-flk-I antiserum, Enzymology Lab, Sugen, Inc.;

q. U40 monoclonal antibody specific for phophotyrosine, Enzymology Lab,Sugen, Inc.;

r. EIA grade Goat anti-mouse lgG-POD (BioRad catalog no. 172-1011)

s. 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) solution(100 mm citric acid (anhydrous), 250 mM Na₂HPO₄ (pH 4.0), 0.5 mg/ml ABTS(Sigma catalog no. A-1888)), solution should be stored in dark at 4° C.until ready for use;

t. H₂O₂ (30% solution) (Fisher catalog no. 11325);

u. ABTS/H₂O₂ (15 ml ABTS solution, 2 ul H₂O₂) prepared 5 minutes beforeuse a nd left at room temperature;

v. 0.2 M HCl stock in H₂O;

w. dimethylsulfoxide (100%) (Sigma Catalog No. D-8418)

y. Trypsin-EDTA (Gibco BRL Catalog No. 25200-049)

Protocol. The following protocol was used to conduct the ELISA Assay

1. Coat Corning 96-well elisa plates with 1.0ug per well CappelAnti-rabbit IgG antibody in 0.1M Na2OO3 pH 9.6. Bring final volume to150 ul per well. Coat plates overnight at 4° C. Plates can be kept up totwo weeks when stored at 4° C.

2. Grow cells in 30 ml of Growth media (DMEM. 2.0 mM L-Glutamine, 10%FBS) until confluent in 150 cm tissue culture dishes at 37¤ C., 5% CO₂.

3. Harvest cells by tyrpsination and seed in Corning 25850 polystyrene96-well roundbottom cell plates, 25.000 cells/well in 200 uL of growthmedia.

4. Grow cells at least one day at 37° C., 5% CO₂.

5. Wash cells with D-PBS IX.

6. Add 200 ul/well of starvation media (DMEM, 2.0 mM 1-Glutamine, 0.1%FBS). Incubate overnight at 37° C., 5% CO₂.

7. Dilute Compound 1:20 in polyproplyene 96 well plates using starvationmedia. Dilu te dimethylsulfoxide 1:20 for use in control wells.

8. Remove starvation media from 96 well cell culture plates and add 162ul of fresh starvation media to each well.

9. Add 18 ul of 1:20 diluted Compound dilution (from step #7) to eachwell plus the 1:20 dimethylsulfoxide dilution to the controlwells(+/−VEGF), for a final dilution of 1:200 after cell stimulation.Final dimethylsulfoxide is 0.5%. Incubate the plate at 37° C., 5% CO₂for two hours.

10. Remove unbound antibody from Elisa plates by inverting plate toremove liquid. Wash 3 times with TBSW +0.5% Ethanolamine, pH 7.0. Patthe plate on a paper towel to remove excess liquid and bubbles.

11. Block plates with TBSW+0.5% Ethanolamine, pH 7.0. 150 ul per well.Incubate plate thirty minutes while shaking on a microtiter plateshaker.

12. Wash plate 3 times as described in step 10.

13. Add 005ug/well affinity purified anti-flk-I polyclonal rabbitantiserum. Bring final volume to 150 μl/well with TBSW+0.5% EthanolaminepH 7.0. Incubate plate for thirty minutes while shaking.

14. Add 180 ml starvation medium to the cells and stimulate cells with20 ul/well 10.0 mM Sodium Ortho Vanadate and 500 ng/ml VEGF (resultingin a final concentration of 1.0 mM Sodium Ortho Vanadate and 50 ng/mlVEGF per well) for eight minutes at 37° C., 5% CO₂. Negative controlwells receive only starvation medium.

15. After eight minutes, media are removed from the cells and washed onetime with 200 ul/well PBS.

16. Lyse cells in 150 ul/well HNTG while shaking at room temperature forfive minutes. HNTG formulation includes sodium ortho vanadate, sodiumpyro phosphate and EDTA.

17. Wash Elisa plate three times as described in step 10.

18. Transfer cell lysates from the cell plate to elisa plate andincubate while shaking for two hours. To transfer cell lysate pipette upand down while scrapping the wells.

19. Wash plate three times as described in step 10.

20. Incubate Elisa plate with 0.02ug/well UB40 in TBSW+05% ethanolamine.Bring final volume to 150 ul/well. Incubate while shaking for 30minutes.

21. Wash plate three times as described in step 10.

22. Incubate elisa plate with 1:10,000 diluted EIA grade Goat anti-mouseIgG conjugated horseradish peroxidase in TBSW+0.5% ethanolamine, pH 7.0.Bring final volume to 150 ul/well. Incubate while shaking for thirtyminutes.

23. Wash plate as described in step 10.

24. Add 100 ul of ABTS/H202 solution to well. Incubate ten minutes whileshaking.

25. Add 100 ul of 0.2 M MCTh for 0.1 M MCL final to stop the colordevelopment reaction. Shake 1 minute at room temperature. Remove bubbleswith slow stream of air and read the ELISA plate in an ELISA platereader at 410 nm.

GROUP III-IN VITRO CELL GROWTH ASSAYS

Example 8 Sulforhodamine B (SRB) Assay for Adherent Cells

Sulforhodamine B assays for measuring effects of TBST compounds on cellgrowth were based on procedures described by Skehan et al. J. Natl.Cancer Inst. 82:1107, 1990 incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety, including any drawings. Unless otherwise stated the assayswere carried out aseptically as follows:

Material & Methods

(1) Sulforhodamine B Sigma Catalog S-9012 Working solution:0.4%Sulforhodamine B=4 gram/liter 1% Acetic Acid.

(2) Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA)—Fisher Catalog #A322 Working solution:10%TCA=100 gram TCA+1 liter H₂O.

(3) Acetic Acid, Glacial—Fisher Catalog A38 Working solution:1 AceticAcid=10 ml Acetic Acid+990 ml H₂O.

(4) Tris, crystallized free base—Fisher Catalog 5BP152 Workingsolution:10 mM tris=1.211 gram Trizma base/liter H₂O.

Procedure

(1) Aspirate growth media from 96 well plate containing control cells orcell treated with compounds, rinse wells 2 or 3 times with PBS and layer200 μl cold 100 TCA onto each well. Fix cells for 60 minutes at 4° C.

(2) Discard TCA and rinse wells 5 times with distilled H₂O. Dry plateupside down on paper towel.

(3) Stain fixed cells for 10 minutes with 100 μl 0.4% SRB per well.

(4) Pour off SRB solution and rinse wells 5 times with 1% acetic acid.

(5) Dry plate upside down on paper towel.

(6) After wells are completely dry, solubilize dye with 100 μl 10 mMTris base per well for 5-10 minutes on titer plate shaker.

(7) Read optical density at dual wavelength mode 570 nm and 630 nm onDynatech ELISA plate reader, Model MR 5000.

Example 9 Soft Agar Assay Protocol

The soft agar assay is well known in the art as a method for measuringthe effects of substances on cell growth. Unless otherwise stated thesoft agar assays were carried out as follows:

Material & Reagents

(1) A Water bath set at 39° C. and another water bath at 37° C.

(2) 2×assay medium is comprised of 2×Dulbecco's 5Modified Eagle's Medium(DMEM) (Gibco Cat. # CA400-4ANO3) supplemented by the following:

 20% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) 2 mM Sodium Pyruvate 4 mM Glut amine

 20 mM HEPES Non-essential Amino Acids (1:50 from 100×stock)

(3) 1×assay medium made of 1×DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS, 1 mM sodiumpyruvate, 2 mM glutamine, 10 mM HEPES, non-essential amino acid (1:100from 100×stock)

(4) 1.6% SeaPlaque Agarose in autoclave bottle

(5) Sterile 35 mm Corning plates (FMC Bioproducts Cat. #50102)

(6) Sterile 5 ml glass pipets (individually wrapped)

(7) Sterile 15 ml and 50 ml conical centrifuge tubes

(8) Pipets and sterile tips

(9) Sterile microcentrifuge tubes

(10) Cells in T75 flasks:SKOV-3 (ACTT HTB77)

(11) 0.25% Trypsin solution (Gibco #25200-015)

Procedure for making the base layer

(a) Have all the media warmed up in the 37° C. water bath.

(b) To make 1×of assay medium+0.8% agar:make a 1:2 (vol:vol) dilution ofmelted agar (cooled to 39° C.), with 2×assay medium.

(c) Keep all media with agar warm in the 39° C. water bath when not inuse.

(d) Dispense 1 ml of 1×assay medium+0.8% agar into dishes and gentlyswirl plate to form a uniform base layer. Bubbles should be avoided.

(e) Refrigerate base layers to solidify (about 20 minutes) . Base layerscan be stored overnight in the refrigerator.

Procedure for collecting cells

(a) Take out one flask per cell line from the incubator; aspirate offmedium; wash once with PBS and aspirate off; add 3 ml of trypsinsolution.

(b) After all cells dissociate from the flask, add 3 ml of 1×assay mediato inhibit trypsin activity. Pipet the cells up and down, then transferthe suspension into a 15 ml tube.

(c) Determine the concentration of cells using a Coulter counter, andthe viability by trypan blue exclusion.

(d) Take out the appropriate volume needed to seed 3300 viable cells perplate and dilute it to 1.5 ml with 1×assay medium.

Procedure for making the upper 0.4% agarose layer

(a) Add TBST compounds at twice the desired final assay concentration;+1.5 ml of cell suspension in 1×assay medium 10% FBS;+1.5 ml of 1×assaymedium+0.8% agarose:Total=3.0 ml 1×media 10% FBS+0.4% agarose with 3300viable cells/mi, with and without TBST compounds.

 *(Made by 1:2 dilution of 2×media with 1.6% agar for the base layerprocedure above.)

(b) Plate 1 ml of the Assay Mix onto the 1 ml base layer. The duplicatesare plated from the 3 ml volume.

(c) Incubate the dishes for 2-3 weeks in a 100% humidified, 10% CO₂incubator.

(d) Colonies that are 60 microns and larger are scored positive.

Example 10 MCF-7 SRB Growth Assay

MCF-7 cells are seeded at 2000 cells/well in a 96-well flat bottom platein normal growth media, which was 10% FBS/RPMI supplemented with 2 mMGlutamine. The plate of cells is incubated for about 24 hours at 37° C.after which it receives an equal volume of compound dilution per wellmaking the total volume per well 200 μl. The compound is prepared at 2times the desired highest final concentration and serially diluted inthe normal growth media in a 96-well round bottom plate and thentransferred to plate of cells. DMSO serves as the vector control up to0.2% as final concentration. The cells are then incubated at 37° C. in ahumidified 5% CO₂ incubator.

Four days following dosing of compound, the media is 15 discarded and200 μl/well of ice-cold 10% TCA (Trichloroacetic Acid) is added to fixcells. After 60 minutes at 4° C., the TCA is discarded and the plate isrinsed 5 times with water. The plate is then air-dried and 100 μl/wellof 0.4% SRB (Sulforhodamine B from Sigma) 20 in 1% Acetic Acid is addedto stain cells for 10 minutes at room temperature. The SRB is discardedand the plate is rinsed 5 times with 1% Acetic Acid. After the plate iscompletely dried, 100 μl/well of 10 mM Tris-base is added to solubilizethe dye. After 5 to 10 minutes, the plate is read on a Dynatech ELISAPlate Reader at dual wavelengths at 570 nm and 630 nm.

Example 11 MCF-7/HER-2 SRB Growth Assay

The protocol is basically the same as that above (for the MCF-7 GrowthAssay) except that immediately before the 30 compound is added, thenormal growth media is removed and 0.5% FBS/RPMI supplemented with 2 mMGlutamine is added onto the cells. The compound is also prepared in this0.5% serum media. The plate of cells is incubated for four days anddeveloped as usual.

Example 12 3T3 Growth Assay

The 3T3 growth assay was carried out as follows:

Materials and Reagents

(1) Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (D-MEM), Gibco 511965-050;

(2) Calf serum, Gibco 16170-029;

(3) Trypsin-EDTA, Gibco 25200-056;

(4) Fetal Bovine Serum Certified, Gibco 16000-028;

(5) Dulbecco' 5 Phosphate-Buffered Saline (D-PBS), 10 Gibco 14190-029;

(6) Sulforhodamine B (SRB), Sigma 5-9012 0.4% SRB in 1% acetic acid;

(7) 10 mM Tris-base, Fisher BP152-5;

(8) 10% TCA, Trich roloacetic acid, Fisher A322-500;

(9) 96-well flat bottom plate (sterile), Corning 08-757-155;

(10) 100 ml reagent reservoir 9 (sterile), Matrix TechnologiesCorporation, 8086;

(1 1) Sterile pipet tips, Fisher 21-1 97-8E;

(12) 50 ml sterile TBST tubes, Fisher 05-539-6.

Cell Lines

NIH3T3C7 cells in 10% CS+2 mM GLN DMEM HER2C7 cells in 2% FBS+2 mM GLNDMEM

Procedures

(1) HER2C7 (engineered to express HER2) and NIH3T3C7 (as the control)cells are used for this assay. NIH3T3C7 cells are seeded at 2500cells/well, 10 μl/well in 10% CS+2 mM GLN DMEM, in a 96 well plate;HER2C7 cells are seeded at 6000 cells/well, 100 μl/well in 2% FBS+2 mMGLN DMEM, in a 96 well plate. Cells are incubated at 37° C., 5% CO₂overnight to allow for cell attachment to the plate;

(2) The TBST compound is added to the cells at day 2. The compounds areprepared in the appropriate growth medium (10% CS+2 mM) GLN DMEM forNIH3T3C7 cells; 2% FBS+2 mM GLN DMEM for HER2C7 cells) in a 96 wellplate, and serially diluted. A total of 100 μl/well medium of thediluted compounds is added into the cells. The total volume of each wellis 200 μl. Quadruplicates (wells) and 11 concentration points areapplied to each compound tested.

(3) After the cells are treated with the compound for 4 days, the cellsare washed with PBS and fixed with 200 μl/well ice-cold 10% TCA for onehour at 0-5° C. condition.

(4) Remove TCA and rinse wells 5 times with deionized water. Dry platesupside down with paper towels. Stain cells with 0.4% SRB at 100 μl/wellfor 10 minutes.

(5) Pour off SRB and rinse plate 5 times with 1% acetic acid. Dry platecompletely.

(6) Solubilize the dye with 10 mM Tris-base at 100 μl/well for 10minutes on a shaker.

(7) Read the plate at dual wavelengths at 570 nm and 630 nm on DynatechElisa plate reader.

Example 13 HUV-EC-C Flk-1 assay

The HUV-EC-C Flk-1 assay can be performed as follows:

DAY 0

1. Wash and trypsinize HUV-EC-C cells (human umbilical vein endothelialcells, American Type Culture Collection; catalogue no. 1730-CRL). Washwith Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline (D-PBS; obtained from GibcoBRL; catalogue no. 14190-029) 2 times at about 1 ml/10 cm² of tissueculture flask. Trypsinize with 0.05% trypsin-EDTA in non-enzymatic celldissociation solution (Sigma Chemical Company; catalogue no. C-1544).The 0.05% trypsin was made by diluting 0.25% trypsin/1 mM EDTA (Gibco;catalogue no. 25200-049) in the cell dissociation solution. Trypsinizewith about 1 ml/25-30 cm² of tissue culture flask for about 5 minutes at37° C. After cells have detached from the flask, add an equal volume ofD-PBS and transfer to a 50 ml sterile centrifuge tube (FisherScientific; catalogue no. 05-539-6).

2. Wash the cells with about 35 ml D-PBS in the 50 ml sterile centrifugetube by adding the D-PBS, centrifuge for 10 minutes at approximately200×g, aspirate the supematant, and resuspend with 35 ml D-PBS. Repeatthe wash two more times, resuspend the cells in about 1 ml assaymedium/15 cm² of tissue culture flask. Assay medium consists of F12Kmedium (Gibco BRL; catalogue no. 21127-014)+0.5% heat-inactivated fetalbovine serum. Count the cells with a Coulter

Counter^((R))(Coulter Electronics, Inc.) and add assay medium to thecells to obtain a concentration of 0.8-1.0×10⁵ cells/ml.

3. Add cells to 96-well flat-bottom plates at 100 ul/well or 0.8-1.0×10⁴cells/well; incubate ˜24 h at 37° C., 5% CO₂.

DAY 1

1. Make up two-fold drug titrations in separate 96-well plates,generally 50 uM on down to 0 uM. Use the same assay medium as mentionedin day 0, step 2 above. Titrations are made by adding 120 ul/well ofdrug at 200 uM (4×the final well concentration) to the top well of aparticular plate column. Since the stock drug concentration is 10 mM andin 100% DMSO, the 200 uM drug concentration is 0.5% DMSO. Therefore,diluent made up of 0.5% DMSO in assay medium (F12K+0.5% fetal bovineserum) is used as diluent for the drug titrations in order to dilute thedrug but keep the DMSO concentration constant. Add this diluent to theremaining wells in the column at 60 ul/well. take 60 ul from the 120 ulof 200 uM drug dilution in the top well of the column and mix with the60 ul in the second well of the column. Take 60 ul from this well andmix with the 60 ul in the third well of the column, and so on untiltwo-fold titrations are completed. When the next-to-the-last well ismixed, take 60 ul of the 120 ul in this well and discard it. Leave thelast well with 60 ul of DMSO/media diluent as a non-drug-containingcontrol. Make 9 columns of titrated drug, enough for triplicate wellseach for 1) vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; obtained fromPepro Tech Inc., catalogue no. 100-20), 2) endothelial cell growthfactor (ECGF; also known as acidic fibroblast growth factor, or aFGF;obtained from Boehringer Mannheim Biochemica, catalogue no. 1439 600),and assay media control. ECGF comes as a preparation with sodiumheparin.

2. Transfer 50 ul/well of the drug dilutions to the 96-well assay platescontaining the 0.8-1.0×10⁴ cells/100 ul/well of the HUV-EC-C cells fromday 0 and incubate ˜2 h at 370° C., 5% CO₂,

3. In triplicate, add 50 ul/well of 80 ug/ml VEGF, 20 ng/ml ECGF, ormedia control to each drug condition. As with the drugs, the growthfactor concentrations are 4×the desired final concentration. Use theassay media from day 0 step 2 to make the concentrations of growthfactors. Incubate ˜24 h at 37° C., 5% CO₂. Each well will have 50 uldrug dilution, 50 ul growth factor or media, and 100 ul cells,=200ul/well total. Thus the 4×concentrations of drugs and growth factorsbecome 1×once everything has been added to the wells.

DAY 2

1. Add ³H-thymidine (Amersham; catalogue no. TRK-686) at 1 uCi/well (10ul/well of 100 uCi/ml solution made up in RPMI media+10%heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum) and incubate ˜24 h at 370° C., 5%CO₂. Note:³H-thymidine is made up in RPMI media because all of the otherapplications for which we use the ³H-thymidine involve experiments donein RPMI. The media difference at this step is probably not significant.RPMI was obtained from Gibco BRL, catalogue no. 11875-051.

DAY 3

1. Freeze plates overnight at 20° C.

DAY 4

1. Thaw plates and harvest with a 96-well plate harvester (TomtecHarvester 96^((R))) onto filter mats (Wallac; catalogue no. 1205-401);read counts on a Wallac Betaplate(™) liquid scintillation counter.

Example 14 IGF-1 Receptor Growth Assay

Screen III

Cell lines: 3T3/IGF-1R (10% FBS/2 mM glutamine/DMEM)

 NIH 3T3 c7 (10% calf serum/2 mM glutamine/DMEM)

 NOTE:NIH 3T3 cells (and cells derived from them) should never beallowed to become confluent because this increases the chance ofspontaneous transformation. If they show signs of being transformed(morphological changes, piling up, moving into clumps), throw them awayand thaw a fresh batch.

Materials: 10% FBS/2 mM glutamine/DMEM

 0.5% FBS/2 mM glutamine/DMEM

 10% calf serum/2 mM glutamine/DMEM

 IGF-1, 5 μM in sterile PBS (Promega/Fisher cat. #G5111)

 DMSO, tissue culture grade (Sigma cat. #D 2650)

 Hits from screen II, 100 mM in DMSO

 96-well plates, flat and round bottom

 8 channel pipettor and sterile tips

 sterile reagent reservoirs

 sterile tubes (1.5 or 15 ml)

Methods (carry all steps out under asceptic conditions until fixing thecells for the SRB assay):

Day 0: Cell Plating—Trypsinize and count 3T3/IGF-1R and NIH 3T3 c7cells. Dilute in growth media to 2000 cells/200 μl and seed flat bottom96-well plates with 200 μl/well, one plate for two compounds for eachcell line.

Day 1: Compound preparation—Add DMSO to each compound to make 100 mMstock solutions. If a compound does not go into solution with vortexing,add extra DMSO to make 50 mM or less, as required.

 Aliquot each compound to 3-4 sterile screw cap tubes and store at −20°C. After thawing, make sure the compound has gone completely back intosolution. Throw away after 3 freeze/thaws.

 3T3/lGF-1R cells—For each 96-well plate, make 15 ml of 10 nM IGF-1/0.5%FBS/2 mM glutamine/DMEM (30 μl of 5 μM IGF-1/15 ml).

 Aliquot 1.5 ml 10 nM IGF-1/0.5% FBS to a sterile tube for each compoundto be tested (the first time a compound is tested, use a 15 ml tube incase it is necessary to add extra medium to get it into solution).

 Add 3 μl of 100 mM stock of each compound to a tube so 200 μM final.Shake or vortex until it goes into solution. If it is necessary to addadditional medium, note the final concentration.

 For the DMSO control, prepare 0.5 ml/plate of 0.2% DMSO/10 nMIGF-1/0.5% FBS (2 μl DMSO/ml).

 For every two compounds, aliquot 130 μl 10 nM IGF-1/0.5% FBS to wellsin columns 2-11 of a 96-well round bottom plate.

 Add 260 μl of each compound to four wells in column 12.

 Do 2-fold dilutions (130 μl) from columns 12 to 3 on each plate (column2 will be for the untreated control), mixing thoroughly.

 Remove medium from 3T3/IGF-1 R cells, one plate at a time.

 Transfer 120 μl from each well on a compound dilution plate to thecorresponding well of cells.

 Add 120 μl 0.2% DMSO/10 nM IGF-1/0.5% FBS to four wells in column 1.

 Add 120 μl 0.5% FBS (without IGF-1) to other four wells in column 1 fornegative control.

 NIH 3T3 c7 cells—Carry out the same steps as for 3T3/IGF-1 R cellsexcept use 10% calf serum instead of 0.5% FBS and do not include IGF-1.

Day 4: Refeed—Repeat steps above, adding exactly the same IGF-1 andcompound concentration to each well as before.

Day 6: Analysis of cells—Look at wells with the highest concentrationsfor each compound to make sure it has not precipitated. If so, markwells and do not use for data calculations.

 Also scan plates to make sure none of the wells are contaminated. Ifso, mark wells and do not use for data calculations.

 Detection—Follow the steps for fixing and staining described in the SOPfor SRB Assays.

 Whenever:Data analysis—Find averages and standard deviations for eachset of four OD's.

 Using wells in column 2 (treated with IGF-1 but not compound) as 100%,calculate percent of control for each concentration of compound.

 Determine the fold difference between the IGF-1-treated and untreatedcells. It should be 2-3-fold.

 Determine the percent of control for 0.2% DMSO. If it is less than 95%,do not use the highest compound concentration to calculate the IC₅₀value.

 Use a curve fit method to graph percent of control vs. log(molarconcentration) and determine the IC₅₀.

GROUP IV-IN VIVO Example 15 VEGF Pellet Model Basic Procedures

Theory—VEGF packaged into a time- release pellet and implantedsubcutaneously on the abdomen of nude mice. This implant induces a‘reddening’ response and subsequent swelling around the pellet. Theobjective of these studies is to implant Flk-1 inhibitors inmethylcellulose near the VEGF pellet in an attempt to inhibit the‘reddening’ response and subsequent swelling.

Materials

VEGF—human, recombinant, lyophilized (Peprotech, Inc., PrincetonBusiness Park, G2; P.O. box 275, Rocky Hill, N.J. 08553)

VEGF Packaged into 21 day release pellets by Innovative Research ofAmerica, using patented matrix driven delivery system. Pellets packagedat 0.20, 0.21, or 2.1 ug VEGF/pellet. These doses approximate 10 and 100ng/day release of VEGF. (Innovative Research of America, 3361 ExecutiveParkway, P.O. box 2746, Toledo, Ohio 43606)

Methylcellulose

Water (sterile)

Methanol

Appropriate drugs/inhibitors

10 cm culture plates

parafilm

Methods

VEGF purchased from Peprotech and sent to Innovative Research for CustomPellet preparation.

Methylcellulose prepared at 1.5% (w/v) in sterile water

Drugs solublized in methanol (usual concentration range=10 to 20 mg/ml)

Place sterile parafilm in sterile 10 cm plates

150 ul of drug in methanol added to 1.35 ml of 1.5% methylcellulose andmixed/vortexed thoroughly.

25 ul aliquots of homogenate placed on parafilm and dried into discs.

Mice (6-10 wk. Balb/C athymic nu/nu, female) anesthetized via isofluraneinhalation. VEGF pellets and methylcellulose discs implantedsubcutaneously on the abdomen.

Mice scored at 24 hours and 48 hours for reddening and swellingresponse.

Experimental Design

N=4 animals/group

Controls

VEGF pellet+drug placebo

VEGF placebo+drug pellet

The examples provided herein describe experiments that indicate thecompounds of the present invention are useful in inhibiting certain invitro activities of receptors and other signalling molecules associatedwith cell proliferative and cell differentiation disorders. Animal modelsystems can also be used to further measure the therapeutic effect of acompound. Examples of suitable animal models include subcutaneousxenograft model and in situ mammary fat pad model. Another suitableanimal model described herein is the VEGF pellet model.

Example 16 Xenoraft Model

The ability of human tumors to grow as xenografts in 10 athymic mice(e.g., Balb/c, nu/nu) provides a useful in vivo model for studying thebiological response to therapies for human tumors. Since the firstsuccessful xenotransplantation of human tumors into athymic mice byRygaard and Povlsen (Rygaard, J. and Povisen, C.O., Acta Pathol.Microbial. Scand., 77:758-760, 1969.), many different human tumor celllines (e.g., mammary, lung, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, head andneck, glioblastoma, bone, and malignant melanomas) have beentransplanted and successfully grown in nude mice. Human mammary tumorcell lines, including MCF-7, ZR75-l, and MDA-MB-231, have beenestablished as subcutaneous xenografts in nude mice (Warri, A. M., etal, Int. J. Cancer, 49:616-623, 1991; Ozzello, L. and Sordat, M., Eur.J. Cancer, 16:553-559, 1980; Osbome, C. K., et al, Cancer 25 Res.,45:584-590, 1985; Seibert, K., et al, Cancer Res., 43:2223-2239, 1983).

To study the effect of anti-tumor drug candidates on HER2 expressingtumors, the tumor cells should be able to grow in th e absence ofsupplemental estrogen. Many mammary cell lines are dependent on estrogenfor in vivo growth in nude mice (Osborne et al., supra), however,exogenous estrogen suppresses her2 expression in nude mice (Warri etal., supra, Dati, C., et al, Oncogene, 5:1001-1006, 1990) . For example,in the presence of estrogen, MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and T47D cells grow well invivo, but express very low levels of HER2 (Warri et al., supra, Dati,C., et al, Oncogene, 5:1001-1006).

The following type of xenograft protocol can be used:(1) implant tumorcells (subcutaneously) into the hindflank of five- to six-week-oldfemale Balb/c nu/nu athymic mice; (2) administer the anti-tumorcompound; (3) measure tumor growth by measuring tumor volume. The tumorscan also be analyzed for the presence of a receptor, such as HER2, EGFor PDGF, by Western and immunohistochemical analyses. Using techniquesknown in the art, one skilled in the art can vary the above procedures,for example through the use of different treatment regimes.

Example 17 Mammary Fat Pad Model

The mammary fat pad model is particularly useful for measuring theefficacy of compounds which inhibit HER2, because of the role HER2 playsin breast cancer. By implanting tumor cells directly into the locationof interest, in situ models more accurately reflect the biology of tumordevelopment than do subcutaneous models. Human mammary cell lines,including MCF-7, have been grown in the mammary fat pad of athymic mice(Shafie, S. M. and Grantham, F. H., J. Natl. Cancer Instit., 67:51-56,1981; Gottardis, M. M., et al, J. Steroid Biochem., 30:311-314, (1988).For example the following procedure can be used:(1) MDA-MB-231 and MOF-7cells transfected with her2 are implanted at various concentrations intothe axillary mammary fat pads of female athymic mice; (2) the compoundis administered; and (3) tumor growth is measured at various timepoints. The tumors can also be analyzed for the presence of a receptorsuch as HER2, by Western and immunohistochemical analyses. Usingtechniques known in the art, one skilled in the art can vary the aboveprocedures, for example through the use of different treatment regimes.

Example 18 Toxicity

Therapeutic compounds should be more potent in inhibiting receptortyrosine kinase activity than in exerting a cytotoxic effect. A measureof the effectiveness and cell toxicity of a compound can be obtained bydetermining the therapeutic index:IC₅₀/LD₅₀. IC₅₀, the dose required toachieve 50% inhibition, can be measured using standard techniques suchas those described herein. LD₅₀, the dosage which results in 50%toxicity, can also be measured by standard techniques, such as using anMTT assay as described by Mossman J. Immunol. Methods 65:55-63 (1983),by measuring the amount of LDH released (Korzeniewski and Callewaert, J.inimunol. Methods 64:313 (1983); Decker and Lohmann-Matthes, J. Immunol.Methods 115:61 (1988), or by measuring the lethal dose in animal models.Compounds with a large therapeutic index are preferred. The therapeuticindex should be greater than 2, preferably at least 10, more preferablyat least 50.

In addition to measuring tumor growth to achieve a compound range whichcan safely be administered to a patient in the animal models, plasmahalf-life and biodistribution of the drug and metabolites in plasma,tumors, and major organs can be determined to facilitate the selectionof drugs most appropriate for the inhibition of a disorder. Suchmeasurements can be carried out, for example, using HPLC analysis.Compounds that show potent inhibitory activity in the screening assays,but have poor pharmacokinetic characteristics, can be optimized byaltering the chemical structure and retesting. In this regard, compoundsdisplaying good pharmacokinetic characteristics can be used as model.

Toxicity studies can also be carried out by measuring the blood cellcomposition. For example, toxicity studies can be carried out asfollows:(1) the compound is administered to mice (an untreated controlmouse should also be used); (2) blood samples are periodically obtainedvia the tail vein from one mouse in each treatment group; and 3) thesamples are analyzed for red and white blood

TABLE 1 ELISA DATA Compound HER2 HER2 FLK-1 # IGF-1R IR EGFR PDGFR(BT474) (3T3) (Cell.) 747 >100 >100 >50 9.6 >100 >50 745 69 27 <100 >50731 29.2 12 73.2 >50 0.3 17.2 748 >100 >100 >100 5.4 >100 <50 732 11.88.8 58 50 1.9 20.9 733 >100 >100 >100 >50 5.8 83.5 734 93.9 51 >100 >501.8 21.7 735 >100 >100 >100 0.3 57.4 736 19 15.1 100 >100 0.8 22.7739 >100 >100 >100 4.1 >100 740 >160 >100 >100 0.4 >100 741 28.3 9.252.7 >100 13.9 742 >100 >100 >100 0.2 27.8 737 93.5 77 >100 1 32744 >100 >100 >100 4.5 nt 746 >100 >100 >100 0.3 8.1 738 >100 79.2 >1001.3 36.4

TABLE 2 Growth Data 3T3/IGF-1R- 3T3/IGF-1R- 3T3/HER2 3T3/HER2 MCF7/HER2MCF7 Compound 0.5% FBS 10% FBS 2% FBS 10% FBS 10% FBS (0.5% FBS) 747 ntnt >100 >100 26 55 745 nt nt nt nt nt nt 731 25 92 12 70 1 12 748 ntnt >100 >100 46 >100 732 9.2 79 15 95 2.5 13 733 nt nt 60 >100 16 65 734nt nt 55 >100 7 56 735 nt nt 5 22 0.5 0.7 736 14.7 74 18 55 1 8 739 ntnt nt nt 14 35 740 nt nt 3.8 20 0.007 0.2 741 35 91 15 75 1 8 742 nt nt7 38 0.2 2 737 nt nt 40 90 3 16 743 nt nt nt nt nt nt 744 ntnt >100 >100 46 >100 746 nt nt 7 40 0.3 2 738 nt nt 45 >100 3 17

What is claimed is:
 1. A compound of formula

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X is NH; mis 0or 1; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; Q is a 5-membered aryl ring optionallysubstituted with one or more substituents selected from the groupconsisting of halo, trihalo, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, hydrogen, nitro,cyano, amide, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, carboxy, carboxamide, and amino;and R₁₋₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of halo,trihalo, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, hydrogen, nitro, cyano, amide,sulfonyl, sulfonamide, carboxy, carboxamide, and amino.
 2. The compoundof claim 1, wherein m is
 0. 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein m is 1.4. The compound of claim 1, wherein n is
 0. 5. The compound of claim 1,wherein n is
 1. 6. The compound of claim 1, wherein n is
 2. 7. Thecompound of claim 1, wherein n is
 3. 8. A pharmaceutical composition,comprising an effective amount of a compound of formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X is NH; m is 0or 1; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; Q is a 5-membered aryl ring optionallysubstituted with one or more substituents selected from the groupconsisting of halo, trihalo, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, hydrogen, nitro,cyano, amide, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, carboxy, carboxamide, and amino;and R₁₋₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of halo,trihalo, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, hydrogen, nitro, cyano, amide,sulfonyl, sulfonamide, carboxy, carboxamide, and amino; and apharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.
 9. A method ofinhibiting uncontrolled cell proliferation or differentiation,comprising the step of administering to an animal or a human aneffective amount of a compound of formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: X is NH; m is 0or 1; n is 0, 1, 2 or 3; Q is a 5-membered aryl ring optionallysubstituted with one or more substituents selected from the groupconsisting of halo, trihalo, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, hydrogen, nitro,cyano, amide, sulfonyl, sulfonamide, carboxy, carboxamide, and amino;and R₁₋₄ are independently selected from the group consisting of halo,trihalo, alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy, hydrogen, nitro, cyano, amide,sulfonyl, sulfonamide, carboxy, carboxamide, and amino.